diff --git a/scripts/nix-build.in b/scripts/nix-build.in
index c7a60623..bb61e1c1 100755
--- a/scripts/nix-build.in
+++ b/scripts/nix-build.in
@@ -17,7 +17,8 @@ my $runEnv = $0 =~ /nix-shell$/;
 my $pure = 0;
 my $fromArgs = 0;
 my $packages = 0;
-my $interactive = 1;
+# Same condition as bash uses for interactive shells
+my $interactive = -t STDIN && -t STDERR;
 
 my @instArgs = ();
 my @buildArgs = ();