diff --git a/direnvrc b/direnvrc
index a447268..9b70182 100644
--- a/direnvrc
+++ b/direnvrc
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ use_nix() {
 
   local layout_dir path version
   layout_dir=$(direnv_layout_dir)
-  path=$("${NIX_BIN_PREFIX}nix-instantiate" --find-file nixpkgs 2>/dev/null)
+  path=$("${NIX_BIN_PREFIX}nix-instantiate" --find-file nixpkgs 2>/dev/null || true)
   if [[ -n "$path" ]]; then
     path=$(_nix_direnv_realpath "$path")