diff --git a/modules/programs/direnv.nix b/modules/programs/direnv.nix
index ccfe00e6d..1b409991c 100644
--- a/modules/programs/direnv.nix
+++ b/modules/programs/direnv.nix
@@ -141,12 +141,12 @@ in {
             | default []
             | append {||
                 let direnv = (
-                    try {
-                        ${getExe cfg.package} export json
-                    } catch {
-                        ""
-                    }
-                    | from json
+                    # We want to get the stdout from direnv even if it exits with non-zero,
+                    # because it will have the DIRENV_ internal variables defined.
+                    do { ${getExe cfg.package} export json }
+                    | complete
+                    | get stdout
+                    | from json --strict
                     | default {}
                 )
                 if ($direnv | is-empty) {
diff --git a/tests/modules/programs/direnv/nushell.nix b/tests/modules/programs/direnv/nushell.nix
index 2304b8b68..502b325d5 100644
--- a/tests/modules/programs/direnv/nushell.nix
+++ b/tests/modules/programs/direnv/nushell.nix
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@
       "home-files/.config/nushell/config.nu";
   in ''
     assertFileExists "${configFile}"
-    assertFileRegex "${configFile}" \
-      '^\s*/nix/store/.*direnv.*/bin/direnv export json$'
+    assertFileRegex "${configFile}" '/nix/store/.*direnv.*/bin/direnv export json'
   '';
 }