diff --git a/tests/common.sh.in b/tests/common.sh.in
index 756c20c9..e721c369 100644
--- a/tests/common.sh.in
+++ b/tests/common.sh.in
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ export HOME=$TEST_HOME
 mkdir -p $TEST_HOME
 
 export PATH=@bindir@:$PATH
+coreutils=@coreutils@
 
 export NIX_BUILD_HOOK=
 export dot=@dot@
diff --git a/tests/nix-profile.sh b/tests/nix-profile.sh
index 2cc3910b..b244815e 100644
--- a/tests/nix-profile.sh
+++ b/tests/nix-profile.sh
@@ -1,10 +1,14 @@
 source common.sh
 
+sed -e "s|@localstatedir@|$TEST_ROOT/profile-var|g" -e "s|@coreutils@|$coreutils|g" < ../scripts/nix-profile.sh.in > $TEST_ROOT/nix-profile.sh
+
 user=$(whoami)
-rm -rf $TEST_HOME
+rm -rf $TEST_HOME $TEST_ROOT/profile-var
 mkdir -p $TEST_HOME
-USER=$user $SHELL -e -c ". ../scripts/nix-profile.sh"
-USER=$user $SHELL -e -c ". ../scripts/nix-profile.sh" # test idempotency
+USER=$user $SHELL -e -c ". $TEST_ROOT/nix-profile.sh; set"
+USER=$user $SHELL -e -c ". $TEST_ROOT/nix-profile.sh" # test idempotency
 
 [ -L $TEST_HOME/.nix-profile ]
 [ -e $TEST_HOME/.nix-channels ]
+[ -e $TEST_ROOT/profile-var/nix/gcroots/per-user/$user ]
+[ -e $TEST_ROOT/profile-var/nix/profiles/per-user/$user ]