Most nix commands not working on a fresh MacOS 15.2 install

[acovaci]

Describe the bug

Most nix commands are failing on a fresh multi-user install of nix on MacOS 15.2 with the following error:

error:
       … while calling the 'import' builtin
         at «string»:1:18:
            1| {...}@args: with import <nixpkgs> args; (pkgs.runCommandCC or pkgs.runCommand) "shell" { buildInputs = [ (run) (hello) ]; } ""
             |                  ^

       … while realising the context of a path

       … while calling the 'findFile' builtin
         at «string»:1:25:
            1| {...}@args: with import <nixpkgs> args; (pkgs.runCommandCC or pkgs.runCommand) "shell" { buildInputs = [ (run) (hello) ]; } ""
             |                         ^

       error: path '/nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels' is a symlink

Steps To Reproduce

1. Have a MacOS 15.2 installation
2. Use the Nix multi-user installer as described on the NixOS Download page.
3. Installer finishes successfully
4. Try to run the example from the installer (or really any other command): nix-shell -p nix-info --run "nix-info -m"
5. Get the above error :)

Expected behavior

Don't get the above error :)

Metadata

nix-env (Nix) 2.26.0

Additional context

Checklist

• checked latest Nix manual (source)
• checked open bug issues and pull requests for possible duplicates

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[abathur]

I dont have time to investigate myself, but my first guess (since we already have at least 2 reports) is that there may be a bug in the latest release.

Can you try following the uninstall instructions before reinstalling the latest point release in the 2.25 or 2.24 series?

https://nixos.org/manual/nix/stable/installation/uninstall.html#macos

[itanoss]

I had the same situation in 2.26.0 and it works in 2.25.5.

[edolstra]

Was able to reproduce this, will try to fix.

[nixos-discourse]

This issue has been mentioned on NixOS Discourse. There might be relevant details there:

https://discourse.nixos.org/t/path-to-channel-is-a-symlink-error-when-running-commands/59267/6

[nixos-discourse]

This issue has been mentioned on NixOS Discourse. There might be relevant details there:

https://discourse.nixos.org/t/fresh-nix-install-failed/59309/2