diff --git a/gnu/packages.scm b/gnu/packages.scm
index b639541788..821246bc38 100644
--- a/gnu/packages.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages.scm
@@ -61,12 +61,14 @@
 
 (define (search-patch file-name)
   "Search the patch FILE-NAME."
-  (search-path (%patch-path) file-name))
+  (with-fluids ((%file-port-name-canonicalization #f))
+    (search-path (%patch-path) file-name)))
 
 (define (search-bootstrap-binary file-name system)
   "Search the bootstrap binary FILE-NAME for SYSTEM."
-  (search-path (%bootstrap-binaries-path)
-               (string-append system "/" file-name)))
+  (with-fluids ((%file-port-name-canonicalization #f))
+    (search-path (%bootstrap-binaries-path)
+                 (string-append system "/" file-name))))
 
 (define %distro-module-directory
   ;; Absolute path of the (gnu packages ...) module root.