diff --git a/gnu/packages/package-management.scm b/gnu/packages/package-management.scm
index b0457ba87a64ec17b9eb70b5224479ac6ed55f1d..c321a647515f63f71a943927a3485d06c14f2c6e 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/package-management.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/package-management.scm
@@ -170,6 +170,13 @@ (define-public guix
                           (lambda (port)
                             (display ,version port)))
 
+                        ;; Install SysV init files to $(prefix)/etc rather
+                        ;; than to /etc.
+                        (substitute* "nix/local.mk"
+                          (("^sysvinitservicedir = .*$")
+                           (string-append "sysvinitservicedir = \
+$(prefix)/etc/init.d\n")))
+
                         (invoke "sh" "bootstrap")))
                     (add-before 'check 'copy-bootstrap-guile
                       (lambda* (#:key system inputs #:allow-other-keys)