diff --git a/gnu/services/databases.scm b/gnu/services/databases.scm
index de1f6b841..13c235059 100644
--- a/gnu/services/databases.scm
+++ b/gnu/services/databases.scm
@@ -298,6 +298,14 @@ port=" (number->string port) "
   (let ((mysql  (mysql-configuration-mysql config))
         (my.cnf (mysql-configuration-file config)))
     #~(begin
+        (eval-when (expand load eval)
+          (use-modules (ice-9 ftw))
+          (setvbuf (current-output-port) _IONBF)
+          (pk %load-path (search-path %load-path "ice-9/popen.scm"))
+          (let ((dir (car (last-pair %load-path))))
+            (pk dir 'exits? (file-exists? dir)))
+          (pk 'popen (resolve-module '(ice-9 popen) #:ensure #f))
+          (pk 'scan (scandir "/gnu/store")))
         (use-modules (ice-9 popen)
                      (guix build utils))
         (let* ((mysqld  (string-append #$mysql "/bin/mysqld"))