diff --git a/src/libstore/build.cc b/src/libstore/build.cc
index b32a3d3a..059bbb1e 100644
--- a/src/libstore/build.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/build.cc
@@ -2318,7 +2318,7 @@ void DerivationGoal::runChild()
         try {
             setupSeccomp();
         } catch (...) {
-            if (buildUser) throw;
+            if (buildUser.enabled()) throw;
         }
 
 #if __linux__