diff --git a/src/libstore-tests/meson.build b/src/libstore-tests/meson.build
index 8b9893b23..79f21620e 100644
--- a/src/libstore-tests/meson.build
+++ b/src/libstore-tests/meson.build
@@ -101,6 +101,7 @@ test(
   env : {
     '_NIX_TEST_UNIT_DATA': meson.current_source_dir() / 'data',
     'HOME': meson.current_build_dir() / 'test-home',
+    'NIX_REMOTE': meson.current_build_dir() / 'test-home' / 'store',
   },
   protocol : 'gtest',
 )
diff --git a/src/libstore-tests/package.nix b/src/libstore-tests/package.nix
index 62c7e136b..f606604ba 100644
--- a/src/libstore-tests/package.nix
+++ b/src/libstore-tests/package.nix
@@ -77,6 +77,7 @@ mkMesonExecutable (finalAttrs: {
           }
           (''
             export _NIX_TEST_UNIT_DATA=${data + "/src/libstore-tests/data"}
+            export NIX_REMOTE=$HOME/store
             ${stdenv.hostPlatform.emulator buildPackages} ${lib.getExe finalAttrs.finalPackage}
             touch $out
           '');