diff --git a/guix/build/download.scm b/guix/build/download.scm
index dcce0bfc89..ac2086d96e 100644
--- a/guix/build/download.scm
+++ b/guix/build/download.scm
@@ -65,8 +65,11 @@ abbreviation of URI showing the scheme, host, and basename of the file."
 
   (define (elide-path)
     (let ((path (uri-path uri)))
-      (string-append (symbol->string (uri-scheme uri))
-                     "://" (uri-host uri)
+      (string-append (symbol->string (uri-scheme uri)) "://"
+
+                     ;; `file' URIs have no host part.
+                     (or (uri-host uri) "")
+
                      (string-append "/.../" (basename path)))))
 
   (if (> (string-length uri-as-string) max-length)