diff --git a/guix/profiles.scm b/guix/profiles.scm
index 980229ca7..52a8bd2ea 100644
--- a/guix/profiles.scm
+++ b/guix/profiles.scm
@@ -157,6 +157,19 @@
 ;; Convenient alias, to avoid name clashes.
 (define make-manifest manifest)
 
+(define (manifest-transitive-entries manifest)
+  "Return the entries of MANIFEST along with their propagated inputs,
+recursively."
+  (let loop ((entries (manifest-entries manifest))
+             (result  '()))
+    (match entries
+      (()
+       (reverse result))
+      ((head . tail)
+       (loop (append (manifest-entry-dependencies head)
+                     tail)
+             (cons head result))))))
+
 (define-record-type* <manifest-entry> manifest-entry
   make-manifest-entry
   manifest-entry?
@@ -250,7 +263,7 @@ file name."
                (#f                                ;no conflict
                 (return result))))
            #t
-           (manifest-entries manifest))))
+           (manifest-transitive-entries manifest))))
 
 (define* (package->manifest-entry package #:optional (output "out")
                                   #:key (parent (delay #f)))