diff --git a/src/libstore/globals.cc b/src/libstore/globals.cc
index 2c50ea9df..787a320d6 100644
--- a/src/libstore/globals.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/globals.cc
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ Settings::Settings()
     , nixLibexecDir(canonPath(getEnv("NIX_LIBEXEC_DIR", NIX_LIBEXEC_DIR)))
     , nixBinDir(canonPath(getEnv("NIX_BIN_DIR", NIX_BIN_DIR)))
     , nixManDir(canonPath(NIX_MAN_DIR))
-    , nixDaemonSocketFile(canonPath(nixStateDir + DEFAULT_SOCKET_PATH))
+    , nixDaemonSocketFile(canonPath(getEnv("NIX_DAEMON_SOCKET_PATH", nixStateDir + DEFAULT_SOCKET_PATH)))
 {
     buildUsersGroup = getuid() == 0 ? "nixbld" : "";
     lockCPU = getEnv("NIX_AFFINITY_HACK", "1") == "1";