diff --git a/gnu/packages/emacs.scm b/gnu/packages/emacs.scm
index a26fbd122f..e96a69c3bc 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/emacs.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/emacs.scm
@@ -1473,7 +1473,9 @@ (define-public emacs-pdf-tools
              ;; upgrading" that pdf-tools tries to perform.
              (emacs-substitute-variables "pdf-tools.el"
                ("pdf-tools-handle-upgrades" '()))))
-         (add-after 'emacs-patch-variables 'emacs-install
+         (add-after 'emacs-patch-variables 'emacs-set-emacs-load-path
+           (assoc-ref emacs:%standard-phases 'set-emacs-load-path))
+         (add-after 'emacs-set-emacs-load-path 'emacs-install
            (assoc-ref emacs:%standard-phases 'install))
          (add-after 'emacs-install 'emacs-build
            (assoc-ref emacs:%standard-phases 'build))