1diff --git a/src/rpy2/rinterface_lib/embedded.py b/src/rpy2/rinterface_lib/embedded.py
2index cc9f7da1..10626f13 100644
3--- a/src/rpy2/rinterface_lib/embedded.py b/src/rpy2/rinterface_lib/embedded.py
4@@ -328,6 +328,15 @@ def _initr(
5 _setinitialized()
6 return None
7
8+ # path to libraries
9+ existing = os.environ.get('R_LIBS_SITE')
10+ if existing is not None:
11+ prefix = existing + ':'
12+ else:
13+ prefix = ''
14+ additional = '@NIX_R_LIBS_SITE@'
15+ os.environ['R_LIBS_SITE'] = prefix + additional
16+
17 # TODO: Setting LD_LIBRARY_PATH after the process has started
18 # is too late. Because of this, the line below does not help
19 # address issues where calling R from the command line is working