diff --git a/etc/guix-install.sh b/etc/guix-install.sh
index 3f05796339..960313d462 100755
--- a/etc/guix-install.sh
+++ b/etc/guix-install.sh
@@ -106,7 +106,9 @@ chk_gpg_keyring()
 { # Check whether the Guix release signing public key is present.
     _debug "--- [ $FUNCNAME ] ---"
 
-    gpg --list-keys ${OPENPGP_SIGNING_KEY_ID} >/dev/null 2>&1 || (
+    # Without --dry-run this command will create a ~/.gnupg owned by root on
+    # systems where gpg has never been used, causing errors and confusion.
+    gpg --dry-run --list-keys ${OPENPGP_SIGNING_KEY_ID} >/dev/null 2>&1 || (
         _err "${ERR}Missing OpenPGP public key.  Fetch it with this command:"
         echo "  wget https://sv.gnu.org/people/viewgpg.php?user_id=15145 -qO - | gpg --import -"
         exit 1