diff --git a/guix/scripts/environment.scm b/guix/scripts/environment.scm
index 15b84afb7fd..1b3b1312ea3 100644
--- a/guix/scripts/environment.scm
+++ b/guix/scripts/environment.scm
@@ -1235,6 +1235,8 @@ command-line option processing with 'parse-command-line'."
                                       (if prof-drv (list prof-drv) '())
                                       (if (derivation? bash) (list bash) '()))))
                 (mwhen gc-root
+                  (mwhen (assoc-ref opts 'create-gc-root-directory?)
+                    (return (mkdir-p (dirname gc-root))))
                   (register-gc-root profile gc-root))
 
                 (mwhen (assoc-ref opts 'check?)
diff --git a/guix/scripts/shell.scm b/guix/scripts/shell.scm
index d8fd71bc24b..1966264298d 100644
--- a/guix/scripts/shell.scm
+++ b/guix/scripts/shell.scm
@@ -261,10 +261,14 @@ cache) or a 'gc-root' key (to add the profile to cache)."
                               opts)))             ;load right away
         (if (and root (not (assq-ref opts 'gc-root)))
             (begin
-              (if stat
-                  (delete-file root)
-                  (mkdir-p (dirname root)))
-              (alist-cons 'gc-root root opts))
+              (when stat
+                (delete-file root))
+              ;; Note: Delay the creation of ROOT's parent directory: a
+              ;; connection must first be made to the daemon so that it
+              ;; creates /var/guix/profiles/per-user/$USER if needed.
+              (alist-cons 'gc-root root
+                          (alist-cons 'create-gc-root-directory? #t
+                                      opts)))
             opts))))
 
 (define (auto-detect-manifest opts)