diff --git a/pkgs/applications/version-management/git-and-tools/git-annex/default.nix b/pkgs/applications/version-management/git-and-tools/git-annex/default.nix
index 9ad70206c361..0c9e642d2650 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/version-management/git-and-tools/git-annex/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/version-management/git-and-tools/git-annex/default.nix
@@ -44,7 +44,10 @@ cabal.mkDerivation (self: {
                     -fTDFA";
   preConfigure = "patchShebangs .";
   installPhase = "./Setup install";
-  checkPhase = ":";
+  checkPhase = ''
+    export HOME="$NIX_BUILD_TOP/tmp"
+    mkdir "$HOME"
+  '';
   meta = {
     homepage = "http://git-annex.branchable.com/";
     description = "manage files with git, without checking their contents into git";