diff --git a/guix/config.scm.in b/guix/config.scm.in
index 4717b1c967..c5ebd39fae 100644
--- a/guix/config.scm.in
+++ b/guix/config.scm.in
@@ -46,7 +46,8 @@
   "@storedir@")
 
 (define %state-directory
-  "@guix_localstatedir@")
+  ;; This must match `NIX_STATE_DIR' as defined in `daemon.am'.
+  "@guix_localstatedir@/nix")
 
 (define %system
   "@guix_system@")