diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/formula.rb b/Library/Homebrew/formula.rb
index fc378b819e..48ac4781f1 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/formula.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/formula.rb
@@ -946,8 +946,17 @@ class Formula
   def stage
     active_spec.stage do
       @buildpath = Pathname.pwd
-      yield
-      @buildpath = nil
+      env_home = buildpath/".brew_home"
+      mkdir_p env_home
+
+      old_home, ENV["HOME"] = ENV["HOME"], env_home
+
+      begin
+        yield
+      ensure
+        @buildpath = nil
+        ENV["HOME"] = old_home
+      end
     end
   end