diff --git a/tests/functional/build.sh b/tests/functional/build.sh
index 5396a465f..9906803c9 100755
--- a/tests/functional/build.sh
+++ b/tests/functional/build.sh
@@ -152,6 +152,11 @@ nix build --impure -f multiple-outputs.nix --json e --no-link \
     (.outputs | keys == ["a_a", "b"]))
 '
 
+# Make sure that `mkdir $HOME fails with a "Permission denied" error`
+out="$(nix build -f mkdir-home-failing.nix -L 2>&1)" && status=0 || status=$?
+test "$status" = 1
+<<<"$out" grepQuiet -E "Permission denied"
+
 # Make sure that `--stdin` works and does not apply any defaults
 printf "" | nix build --no-link --stdin --json | jq --exit-status '. == []'
 printf "%s\n" "$drv^*" | nix build --no-link --stdin --json | jq --exit-status '.[0]|has("drvPath")'
diff --git a/tests/functional/mkdir-home-failing.nix b/tests/functional/mkdir-home-failing.nix
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8f0ac39ba
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/functional/mkdir-home-failing.nix
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+with import ./config.nix;
+mkDerivation {
+  name = "mkdir-home-no-permission";
+  builder = builtins.toFile "builder.sh"
+    ''
+      mkdir $HOME
+    '';
+}