diff --git a/guix/config.scm.in b/guix/config.scm.in
index 0833faef40..3a5c50e00a 100644
--- a/guix/config.scm.in
+++ b/guix/config.scm.in
@@ -51,7 +51,8 @@ (define %guix-home-page-url
   "@PACKAGE_URL@")
 
 (define %store-directory
-  "@storedir@")
+  (or (and=> (getenv "NIX_STORE_DIR") canonicalize-path)
+      "@storedir@"))
 
 (define %state-directory
   ;; This must match `NIX_STATE_DIR' as defined in `daemon.am'.
diff --git a/guix/store.scm b/guix/store.scm
index 7715a15644..1012480b39 100644
--- a/guix/store.scm
+++ b/guix/store.scm
@@ -701,8 +701,7 @@ (define* (export-paths server paths port #:key (sign? #t))
 
 (define %store-prefix
   ;; Absolute path to the Nix store.
-  (make-parameter (or (and=> (getenv "NIX_STORE_DIR") canonicalize-path)
-                      %store-directory)))
+  (make-parameter %store-directory))
 
 (define (store-path? path)
   "Return #t if PATH is a store path."