diff --git a/cabal-install/Distribution/Client/PackageEnvironment.hs b/cabal-install/Distribution/Client/PackageEnvironment.hs
index c688d2a901e677e4f329d9bc16a4554f5099db0a..07f5fd9cecef7b6f3ddeff1d8d6dcf71084764ea 100644
--- a/cabal-install/Distribution/Client/PackageEnvironment.hs
+++ b/cabal-install/Distribution/Client/PackageEnvironment.hs
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ commonPackageEnvironmentConfig :: FilePath -> SavedConfig
 commonPackageEnvironmentConfig sandboxDir =
   mempty {
     savedConfigureFlags = mempty {
-       configUserInstall = toFlag False,
+       configUserInstall = toFlag True,
        configInstallDirs = sandboxInstallDirs
        },
     savedUserInstallDirs   = sandboxInstallDirs,