diff --git a/contrib/guix/guix-build b/contrib/guix/guix-build
index 76c77cc188..1f8d443dd7 100755
--- a/contrib/guix/guix-build
+++ b/contrib/guix/guix-build
@@ -47,6 +47,15 @@ EOF
 exit 1
 fi
 
+################
+# Unset environment variables
+################
+
+# contrib/depends uses the HOST environment variable as the build target.
+# It will throw an error if this variable is set to an unrecognized target.
+# Ensure the var is unset so calls to contrib/depends further down don't fail.
+unset HOST
+
 ################
 # Checkout git submodules if we haven't already
 ################