diff --git a/pkgs/applications/networking/syncthing/default.nix b/pkgs/applications/networking/syncthing/default.nix
index 8e68c1e9f0a7..f41cd2b75748 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/networking/syncthing/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/networking/syncthing/default.nix
@@ -41,8 +41,10 @@ let
 
       doCheck = false;
 
-      BUILD_USER = "nix";
-      BUILD_HOST = "nix";
+      env = {
+        BUILD_USER = "nix";
+        BUILD_HOST = "nix";
+      };
 
       buildPhase = ''
         runHook preBuild