diff --git a/guix/build/syscalls.scm b/guix/build/syscalls.scm
index 4ee2b97e76..3bb4545c04 100644
--- a/guix/build/syscalls.scm
+++ b/guix/build/syscalls.scm
@@ -79,6 +79,7 @@ (define-module (guix build syscalls)
             fdatasync
             pivot-root
             scandir*
+            setxattr
 
             fcntl-flock
             lock-file
@@ -723,6 +724,23 @@ (define* (device-in-use? device)
              (list (strerror err))
              (list err))))))
 
+(define setxattr
+  (let ((proc (syscall->procedure int "setxattr"
+                                  `(* * * ,size_t ,int))))
+    (lambda* (file key value #:optional (flags 0))
+      "Set extended attribute KEY to VALUE on FILE."
+      (let*-values (((bv) (string->utf8 value))
+                    ((ret err)
+                     (proc (string->pointer/utf-8 file)
+                           (string->pointer key)
+                           (bytevector->pointer bv)
+                           (bytevector-length bv)
+                           flags)))
+        (unless (zero? ret)
+          (throw 'system-error "setxattr" "~S: ~A"
+                 (list file key value (strerror err))
+                 (list err)))))))
+
 
 ;;;
 ;;; Random.