diff --git a/src/libstore/build.cc b/src/libstore/build.cc
index c1000583..dd08ce7d 100644
--- a/src/libstore/build.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/build.cc
@@ -2316,13 +2316,22 @@ void DerivationGoal::startBuilder()
                 flags &= ~CLONE_NEWUSER;
                 child = clone(childEntry, stack + stackSize, flags, this);
             }
+            /* Otherwise exit with EPERM so we can handle this in the
+               parent. This is only done when sandbox-fallback is set
+               to true (the default). */
+            if (child == -1 && (errno == EPERM || errno == EINVAL) && settings.sandboxFallback)
+                _exit(EPERM);
             if (child == -1) throw SysError("cloning builder process");
 
             writeFull(builderOut.writeSide.get(), std::to_string(child) + "\n");
             _exit(0);
         }, options);
 
-        if (helper.wait() != 0)
+        int res = helper.wait();
+        if (res == EPERM && settings.sandboxFallback) {
+            useChroot = false;
+            goto fallback;
+        } else if (res != 0)
             throw Error("unable to start build process");
 
         userNamespaceSync.readSide = -1;
@@ -2353,6 +2362,7 @@ void DerivationGoal::startBuilder()
     } else
 #endif
     {
+    fallback:
         options.allowVfork = !buildUser && !drv->isBuiltin();
         pid = startProcess([&]() {
             runChild();
diff --git a/src/libstore/globals.hh b/src/libstore/globals.hh
index 0af8215d..cc9534b2 100644
--- a/src/libstore/globals.hh
+++ b/src/libstore/globals.hh
@@ -209,6 +209,9 @@ public:
         "The paths to make available inside the build sandbox.",
         {"build-chroot-dirs", "build-sandbox-paths"}};
 
+    Setting<bool> sandboxFallback{this, true, "sandbox-fallback",
+        "Whether to disable sandboxing when the kernel doesn't allow it."};
+
     Setting<PathSet> extraSandboxPaths{this, {}, "extra-sandbox-paths",
         "Additional paths to make available inside the build sandbox.",
         {"build-extra-chroot-dirs", "build-extra-sandbox-paths"}};