diff --git a/guix/scripts/pull.scm b/guix/scripts/pull.scm
index 5b4ccf13fe..3b980b8f3f 100644
--- a/guix/scripts/pull.scm
+++ b/guix/scripts/pull.scm
@@ -507,6 +507,7 @@ true, display what would be built without actually building it."
   ;; workaround, skip this code when $SUDO_USER is set.  See
   ;; <https://bugs.gnu.org/36785>.
   (unless (or (getenv "SUDO_USER")
+              (not (file-exists? %user-profile-directory))
               (string=? %profile-directory
                         (dirname
                          (canonicalize-profile %user-profile-directory))))