diff --git a/gnu/packages/gnome.scm b/gnu/packages/gnome.scm
index ead9caac20..c77bc5f5c8 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/gnome.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/gnome.scm
@@ -7256,6 +7256,10 @@ (define-public epiphany
           (replace 'check
             (lambda* (#:key parallel-tests? tests? #:allow-other-keys)
               (when tests?
+                (setenv "XDG_RUNTIME_DIR" (string-append (getcwd)
+                                                         "/runtime-dir"))
+                (mkdir (getenv "XDG_RUNTIME_DIR"))
+                (chmod (getenv "XDG_RUNTIME_DIR") #o700)
                 (setenv "MESON_TESTTHREADS"
                         (if parallel-tests?
                             (number->string (parallel-job-count))