diff --git a/scripts/nix-profile-daemon.sh.in b/scripts/nix-profile-daemon.sh.in
index e07e5b349..8cfd3149e 100644
--- a/scripts/nix-profile-daemon.sh.in
+++ b/scripts/nix-profile-daemon.sh.in
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ if [ -n "${__ETC_PROFILE_NIX_SOURCED:-}" ]; then return; fi
 __ETC_PROFILE_NIX_SOURCED=1
 
 NIX_LINK=$HOME/.nix-profile
-if [ -n "$XDG_STATE_HOME" ]; then
+if [ -n "${XDG_STATE_HOME-}" ]; then
     NIX_LINK_NEW="$XDG_STATE_HOME/nix/profile"
 else
     NIX_LINK_NEW=$HOME/.local/state/nix/profile
diff --git a/scripts/nix-profile.sh.in b/scripts/nix-profile.sh.in
index a9a83559b..c4d60cf37 100644
--- a/scripts/nix-profile.sh.in
+++ b/scripts/nix-profile.sh.in
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ if [ -n "$HOME" ] && [ -n "$USER" ]; then
     # Set up the per-user profile.
 
     NIX_LINK="$HOME/.nix-profile"
-    if [ -n "$XDG_STATE_HOME" ]; then
+    if [ -n "${XDG_STATE_HOME-}" ]; then
         NIX_LINK_NEW="$XDG_STATE_HOME/nix/profile"
     else
         NIX_LINK_NEW="$HOME/.local/state/nix/profile"