diff --git a/guix/derivations.scm b/guix/derivations.scm
index d7f1f3764c..213d9d5586 100644
--- a/guix/derivations.scm
+++ b/guix/derivations.scm
@@ -440,7 +440,7 @@ (define (env-vars-with-empty-outputs)
 (define %guile-for-build
   ;; The derivation of the Guile to be used within the build environment,
   ;; when using `build-expression->derivation'.
-  (make-parameter (false-if-exception (nixpkgs-derivation "guile"))))
+  (make-parameter (false-if-exception (nixpkgs-derivation* "guile"))))
 
 (define* (imported-files store files
                          #:key (name "file-import") (system (%current-system)))
@@ -509,7 +509,8 @@ (define* (build-expression->derivation store name system exp inputs
                                        #:key (outputs '("out"))
                                        hash hash-algo
                                        (env-vars '())
-                                       (modules '()))
+                                       (modules '())
+                                       guile-for-build)
   "Return a derivation that executes Scheme expression EXP as a builder for
 derivation NAME.  INPUTS must be a list of (NAME DRV-PATH SUB-DRV) tuples;
 when SUB-DRV is omitted, \"out\" is assumed.  EXP is evaluated in an
@@ -519,9 +520,13 @@ (define* (build-expression->derivation store name system exp inputs
 of string pairs specifying the name and value of environment variables
 visible to the builder.  The builder terminates by passing the result of EXP
 to `exit'; thus, when EXP returns #f, the build is considered to have
-failed."
+failed.
+
+EXP is built using GUILE-FOR-BUILD (a derivation).  When GUILE-FOR-BUILD is
+omitted or is #f, the value of the `%guile-for-build' fluid is used instead."
   (define guile
-    (string-append (derivation-path->output-path (%guile-for-build))
+    (string-append (derivation-path->output-path (or guile-for-build
+                                                     (%guile-for-build)))
                    "/bin/guile"))
 
   (define module-form?
@@ -579,7 +584,7 @@ (define %build-inputs
                   ,@(if mod-dir `("-L" ,mod-dir) '())
                   ,builder)
                 env-vars
-                `((,(%guile-for-build))
+                `((,(or guile-for-build (%guile-for-build)))
                   (,builder)
                   ,@(map cdr inputs)
                   ,@(if mod-drv `((,mod-drv)) '()))