diff --git a/pkgs/build-support/setup-hooks/mpi-check-hook/mpi-check-hook.sh b/pkgs/build-support/setup-hooks/mpi-check-hook/mpi-check-hook.sh
index d576df6489d6..6adad2b44076 100644
--- a/pkgs/build-support/setup-hooks/mpi-check-hook/mpi-check-hook.sh
+++ b/pkgs/build-support/setup-hooks/mpi-check-hook/mpi-check-hook.sh
@@ -62,6 +62,8 @@ setupMpiCheck() {
     MPICH)
       # Fix to make mpich run in a sandbox
       export HYDRA_IFACE=lo
+      # Disable sysfs cpu topology directory discovery.
+      export HWLOC_XMLFILE="@topology@"
       ;;
     MVAPICH)
       # Disable CPU pinning