diff --git a/pkgs/nix-portable/default.nix b/pkgs/nix-portable/default.nix
index 88189d46..89d7508e 100644
--- a/pkgs/nix-portable/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/nix-portable/default.nix
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ let
     # Nix portable ships its own nix.conf
     export NIX_CONF_DIR=\$dir/conf/
 
-    NP_CONF_SANDBOX=\''${NP_CONF_SANDBOX:-false}
+    NP_CONF_SANDBOX=\''${NP_CONF_SANDBOX:-relaxed}
     NP_CONF_STORE=\''${NP_CONF_STORE:-auto}