diff --git a/ci/nixpkgs-vet.nix b/ci/nixpkgs-vet.nix
index 1ceec363c347..ccc5ba289dcf 100644
--- a/ci/nixpkgs-vet.nix
+++ b/ci/nixpkgs-vet.nix
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@ runCommand "nixpkgs-vet"
     env.NIXPKGS_VET_NIX_PACKAGE = nix;
   }
   ''
+    export NIX_STATE_DIR=$(mktemp -d)
+
     nixpkgs-vet --base ${filtered base} ${filtered head}
 
     touch $out