diff --git a/doc/stdenv.xml b/doc/stdenv.xml
index 68441ea9393ab..34566dc9988d1 100644
--- a/doc/stdenv.xml
+++ b/doc/stdenv.xml
@@ -1008,6 +1008,15 @@ installcheck</command>.</para>
     in the derivation to enable install checks.</para></listitem>
   </varlistentry>
 
+  <varlistentry>
+    <term><varname>noErrorBuildTop</varname></term>
+    <listitem><para>Allow outputs to capture references to the build
+    directory.  Normally, all outputs are scanned for references to
+    the build directory and the build aborted if any are found.  Such
+    references are most likely accidental and may make the build
+    non-reproducible.</para></listitem>
+  </varlistentry>
+
   <varlistentry>
     <term><varname>preInstallCheck</varname></term>
     <listitem><para>Hook executed at the start of the installCheck
diff --git a/pkgs/stdenv/generic/setup.sh b/pkgs/stdenv/generic/setup.sh
index 154fdefd789c7..0bf75c8614f3b 100644
--- a/pkgs/stdenv/generic/setup.sh
+++ b/pkgs/stdenv/generic/setup.sh
@@ -794,6 +794,16 @@ installCheckPhase() {
         $makeFlags "${makeFlagsArray[@]}" \
         $installCheckFlags "${installCheckFlagsArray[@]}" ${installCheckTarget:-installcheck}
 
+    if [ -z "$noErrorBuildTop" -a "$NIX_ENFORCE_PURITY" = "1" -a -n "$NIX_BUILD_TOP" ]; then
+        for output in $outputs; do
+            if grep -qr $NIX_BUILD_TOP ${!output} ; then
+                echo "ERROR: found reference to build path $NIX_BUILD_TOP in the following files"
+                grep -lr $NIX_BUILD_TOP ${!output}
+                exit 1
+            fi
+        done
+    done
+
     runHook postInstallCheck
 }