diff --git a/acl/acl_test.go b/acl/acl_test.go
index b8a6255..8739ed8 100644
--- a/acl/acl_test.go
+++ b/acl/acl_test.go
@@ -20,6 +20,10 @@ var (
 )
 
 func TestUpdatePerm(t *testing.T) {
+	if os.Getenv("GO_TEST_SKIP_ACL") == "1" {
+		t.Log("acl test skipped")
+		t.SkipNow()
+	}
 
 	if f, err := os.Create(testFilePath); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Create: error = %v", err)
diff --git a/package.nix b/package.nix
index b2a8d47..5a61399 100644
--- a/package.nix
+++ b/package.nix
@@ -43,6 +43,9 @@ buildGoModule rec {
         Finit = "${placeholder "out"}/libexec/finit";
       };
 
+  # nix build environment does not allow acls
+  GO_TEST_SKIP_ACL = 1;
+
   buildInputs = [
     acl
     wayland