diff --git a/pkgs/tools/misc/glasgow/default.nix b/pkgs/tools/misc/glasgow/default.nix
index 693660667ea7..2718fc49689f 100644
--- a/pkgs/tools/misc/glasgow/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/tools/misc/glasgow/default.nix
@@ -58,7 +58,10 @@ python3.pkgs.buildPythonApplication rec {
 
   checkPhase = ''
     # tests attempt to cache bitstreams
+    # for linux:
     export XDG_CACHE_HOME=$TMPDIR
+    # for darwin:
+    export HOME=$TMPDIR
     ${python3.interpreter} -W ignore::DeprecationWarning test.py
   '';