diff --git a/dev-tools/mage/crossbuild.go b/dev-tools/mage/crossbuild.go
index 8fcd1e2e6d1a..90fa07a4bb81 100644
--- a/dev-tools/mage/crossbuild.go
+++ b/dev-tools/mage/crossbuild.go
@@ -333,6 +333,8 @@ func (b GolangCrossBuilder) Build() error {
 		"--env", "MAGEFILE_VERBOSE="+verbose,
 		"--env", "MAGEFILE_TIMEOUT="+EnvOr("MAGEFILE_TIMEOUT", ""),
 		"--env", fmt.Sprintf("SNAPSHOT=%v", Snapshot),
+		// See https://github.com/elastic/golang-crossbuild/issues/232
+		"--env", "GIT_CEILING_DIRECTORIES=/",
 		"-v", repoInfo.RootDir+":"+mountPoint,
 		"-w", workDir,
 		image,