diff --git a/pkgs/build-support/vm/default.nix b/pkgs/build-support/vm/default.nix
index 648fea5cd016..8e262b20b3f6 100644
--- a/pkgs/build-support/vm/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/build-support/vm/default.nix
@@ -240,6 +240,10 @@ rec {
 
 
   vmRunCommand = qemuCommand: writeText "vm-run" ''
+    if [ -f "''${NIX_ATTRS_SH_FILE-}" ]; then
+      source "$NIX_ATTRS_SH_FILE"
+    fi
+    source $stdenv/setup
     export > saved-env
 
     PATH=${coreutils}/bin