diff --git a/guix/gexp.scm b/guix/gexp.scm
index edd1224aa9..ab83c1e621 100644
--- a/guix/gexp.scm
+++ b/guix/gexp.scm
@@ -887,8 +887,9 @@ (define tuple->gexp-input
 
   (match graphs
     (((file-names . inputs) ...)
-     (mlet %store-monad ((inputs (lower-inputs (map tuple->gexp-input inputs)
-                                               system target)))
+     (mlet %store-monad ((inputs (without-grafting
+                                  (lower-inputs (map tuple->gexp-input inputs)
+                                                system target))))
        (return (map cons file-names inputs))))))
 
 (define* (lower-references lst #:key system target)
@@ -901,13 +902,15 @@ (define lower
        ((? string? output)
         (return output))
        (($ <gexp-input> thing output native?)
-        (mlet %store-monad ((drv (lower-object thing system
-                                               #:target (if native?
-                                                            #f target))))
+        (mlet %store-monad ((drv (without-grafting
+                                  (lower-object thing system
+                                                #:target (if native?
+                                                             #f target)))))
           (return (derivation->output-path drv output))))
        (thing
-        (mlet %store-monad ((drv (lower-object thing system
-                                               #:target target)))
+        (mlet %store-monad ((drv (without-grafting
+                                  (lower-object thing system
+                                                #:target target))))
           (return (derivation->output-path drv))))))
 
     (mapm/accumulate-builds lower lst)))