diff --git a/pkgs/build-support/rust/build-rust-crate/configure-crate.nix b/pkgs/build-support/rust/build-rust-crate/configure-crate.nix
index 9f499e4f5e72..b184d363d554 100644
--- a/pkgs/build-support/rust/build-rust-crate/configure-crate.nix
+++ b/pkgs/build-support/rust/build-rust-crate/configure-crate.nix
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ in ''
   export CARGO_CFG_TARGET_POINTER_WIDTH=${toString stdenv.hostPlatform.parsed.cpu.bits}
   export CARGO_CFG_TARGET_VENDOR=${stdenv.hostPlatform.parsed.vendor.name}
 
-  export CARGO_MANIFEST_DIR="."
+  export CARGO_MANIFEST_DIR=$(pwd)
   export DEBUG="${toString (!release)}"
   export OPT_LEVEL="${toString optLevel}"
   export TARGET="${stdenv.hostPlatform.config}"