diff --git a/gnu/services.scm b/gnu/services.scm
index 4b30399adc..13259dfaee 100644
--- a/gnu/services.scm
+++ b/gnu/services.scm
@@ -788,7 +788,13 @@ (define setuid-program-service-type
 
 (define (packages->profile-entry packages)
   "Return a system entry for the profile containing PACKAGES."
-  (with-monad %store-monad
+  ;; XXX: 'mlet' is needed here for one reason: to get the proper
+  ;; '%current-target' and '%current-target-system' bindings when
+  ;; 'packages->manifest' is called, and thus when the 'package-inputs'
+  ;; etc. procedures are called on PACKAGES.  That way, conditionals in those
+  ;; inputs see the "correct" value of these two parameters.  See
+  ;; <https://issues.guix.gnu.org/44952>.
+  (mlet %store-monad ((_ (current-target-system)))
     (return `(("profile" ,(profile
                            (content (packages->manifest
                                      (delete-duplicates packages eq?)))))))))