diff --git a/guix/profiles.scm b/guix/profiles.scm
index 885d7c8d40..2ee44ffe6e 100644
--- a/guix/profiles.scm
+++ b/guix/profiles.scm
@@ -1189,7 +1189,7 @@ (define gdk-pixbuf                    ;lazy reference
   (mlet* %store-monad
       ((gdk-pixbuf (manifest-lookup-package manifest "gdk-pixbuf"))
        (librsvg (manifest-lookup-package manifest "librsvg"))
-       (gdk-pixbuf-bin -> (file-append gdk-pixbuf "/bin")))
+       (gdk-pixbuf-bin -> (string-append gdk-pixbuf "/bin")))
 
     (define build
       (with-imported-modules (source-module-closure