diff --git a/gnu/packages/make-bootstrap.scm b/gnu/packages/make-bootstrap.scm
index 42e0916c9af..12e59e9f838 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/make-bootstrap.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/make-bootstrap.scm
@@ -656,6 +656,7 @@ for `sh' in $PATH, and without nscd, and with static NSS modules."
     (build-system trivial-build-system)
     (arguments
      `(#:modules ((guix build utils))
+       #:allowed-references ()
        #:builder
        (begin
          (use-modules (guix build utils))