diff --git a/src/libstore/daemon.cc b/src/libstore/daemon.cc
index 2e1d10bcc..cc1436f90 100644
--- a/src/libstore/daemon.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/daemon.cc
@@ -694,6 +694,7 @@ static void performOp(TunnelLogger * logger, ref<Store> store,
 }
 
 void processConnection(
+    ref<Store> store,
     FdSource & from,
     FdSink & to,
     bool trusted,
@@ -743,12 +744,6 @@ void processConnection(
             throw Error("if you run 'nix-daemon' as root, then you MUST set 'build-users-group'!");
 #endif
 
-        /* Open the store. */
-        Store::Params params; // FIXME: get params from somewhere
-        // Disable caching since the client already does that.
-        params["path-info-cache-size"] = "0";
-        auto store = openStore(settings.storeUri, params);
-
         store->createUser(userName, userId);
 
         tunnelLogger->stopWork();
diff --git a/src/libstore/daemon.hh b/src/libstore/daemon.hh
index 6d4015e34..fa26ba9c2 100644
--- a/src/libstore/daemon.hh
+++ b/src/libstore/daemon.hh
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 #include "serialise.hh"
+#include "store-api.hh"
 
 namespace nix::daemon {
 
 void processConnection(
+    ref<Store> store,
     FdSource & from,
     FdSink & to,
     bool trusted,
diff --git a/src/nix-daemon/nix-daemon.cc b/src/nix-daemon/nix-daemon.cc
index 67bf4dfeb..da17ddcba 100644
--- a/src/nix-daemon/nix-daemon.cc
+++ b/src/nix-daemon/nix-daemon.cc
@@ -140,6 +140,15 @@ static PeerInfo getPeerInfo(int remote)
 #define SD_LISTEN_FDS_START 3
 
 
+static ref<Store> openUncachedStore()
+{
+    Store::Params params; // FIXME: get params from somewhere
+    // Disable caching since the client already does that.
+    params["path-info-cache-size"] = "0";
+    return openStore(settings.storeUri, params);
+}
+
+
 static void daemonLoop(char * * argv)
 {
     if (chdir("/") == -1)
@@ -230,7 +239,7 @@ static void daemonLoop(char * * argv)
                 /* Handle the connection. */
                 FdSource from(remote.get());
                 FdSink to(remote.get());
-                processConnection(from, to, trusted, user, peer.uid);
+                processConnection(openUncachedStore(), from, to, trusted, user, peer.uid);
 
                 exit(0);
             }, options);
@@ -312,7 +321,7 @@ static int _main(int argc, char * * argv)
             } else {
                 FdSource from(STDIN_FILENO);
                 FdSink to(STDOUT_FILENO);
-                processConnection(from, to, true, "root", 0);
+                processConnection(openUncachedStore(), from, to, true, "root", 0);
             }
         } else {
             daemonLoop(argv);