diff --git a/src/nix/develop.cc b/src/nix/develop.cc
index d3381a988..dfad6f94f 100644
--- a/src/nix/develop.cc
+++ b/src/nix/develop.cc
@@ -646,7 +646,7 @@ struct CmdDevelop : Common, MixEnvironment
                 nixpkgs = i->nixpkgsFlakeRef();
 
             auto bashInstallable = make_ref<InstallableFlake>(
-                this,
+                nullptr, //< Don't barf when the command is run with --arg/--argstr
                 state,
                 std::move(nixpkgs),
                 "bashInteractive",