diff --git a/modules/programs/java.nix b/modules/programs/java.nix
index 24467a255..d10f64c54 100644
--- a/modules/programs/java.nix
+++ b/modules/programs/java.nix
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ in {
   config = mkIf cfg.enable {
     home.packages = [ cfg.package ];
 
-    home.sessionVariables.JAVA_HOME = cfg.package.home;
+    # some instances of `jdk-linux-base.nix` pass through `result` without turning it onto a path-string.
+    # while I suspect this is incorrect, the documentation is unclear.
+    home.sessionVariables.JAVA_HOME = "${cfg.package.home}";
   };
 }