diff --git a/nixos/tests/docker-tools.nix b/nixos/tests/docker-tools.nix
index 7110187e8d7..f3858b8bd81 100644
--- a/nixos/tests/docker-tools.nix
+++ b/nixos/tests/docker-tools.nix
@@ -276,15 +276,22 @@ import ./make-test-python.nix ({ pkgs, ... }: {
         # Ensure the image has the correct number of layers
         assert len(set_of_layers("layered-bulk-layer")) == 4
 
-    with subtest("Ensure correct behavior when no store is needed"):
+    with subtest("Ensure only minimal paths are added to the store"):
+        # TODO: make an example that has no store paths, for example by making
+        #       busybox non-self-referential.
+
         # This check tests that buildLayeredImage can build images that don't need a store.
         docker.succeed(
             "docker load --input='${pkgs.dockerTools.examples.no-store-paths}'"
         )
 
-        # This check may be loosened to allow an *empty* store rather than *no* store.
-        docker.succeed("docker run --rm no-store-paths ls /")
-        docker.fail("docker run --rm no-store-paths ls /nix/store")
+        docker.succeed("docker run --rm no-store-paths ls / >/dev/console")
+
+        # If busybox isn't self-referential, we need this line
+        #   docker.fail("docker run --rm no-store-paths ls /nix/store >/dev/console")
+        # However, it currently is self-referential, so we check that it is the
+        # only store path.
+        docker.succeed("diff <(docker run --rm no-store-paths ls /nix/store) <(basename ${pkgs.pkgsStatic.busybox}) >/dev/console")
 
     with subtest("Ensure buildLayeredImage does not change store path contents."):
         docker.succeed(
@@ -379,6 +386,11 @@ import ./make-test-python.nix ({ pkgs, ... }: {
             "docker run --rm ${examples.layeredImageWithFakeRootCommands.imageName} sh -c 'stat -c '%u' /home/jane | grep -E ^1000$'"
         )
 
+    with subtest("The image contains store paths referenced by the fakeRootCommands output"):
+        docker.succeed(
+            "docker run --rm ${examples.layeredImageWithFakeRootCommands.imageName} /hello/bin/layeredImageWithFakeRootCommands-hello"
+        )
+
     with subtest("exportImage produces a valid tarball"):
         docker.succeed(
             "tar -tf ${examples.exportBash} | grep '\./bin/bash' > /dev/null"
diff --git a/pkgs/build-support/docker/default.nix b/pkgs/build-support/docker/default.nix
index dcfa5ec593d..7958db91712 100644
--- a/pkgs/build-support/docker/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/build-support/docker/default.nix
@@ -867,13 +867,13 @@ rec {
         };
 
         closureRoots = lib.optionals includeStorePaths /* normally true */ (
-          [ baseJson ] ++ contentsList
+          [ baseJson customisationLayer ]
         );
         overallClosure = writeText "closure" (lib.concatStringsSep " " closureRoots);
 
         # These derivations are only created as implementation details of docker-tools,
         # so they'll be excluded from the created images.
-        unnecessaryDrvs = [ baseJson overallClosure ];
+        unnecessaryDrvs = [ baseJson overallClosure customisationLayer ];
 
         conf = runCommand "${baseName}-conf.json"
           {
diff --git a/pkgs/build-support/docker/examples.nix b/pkgs/build-support/docker/examples.nix
index 141c2ba0ea4..bef0c584869 100644
--- a/pkgs/build-support/docker/examples.nix
+++ b/pkgs/build-support/docker/examples.nix
@@ -350,6 +350,9 @@ rec {
       # This removes sharing of busybox and is not recommended. We do this
       # to make the example suitable as a test case with working binaries.
       cp -r ${pkgs.pkgsStatic.busybox}/* .
+
+      # This is a "build" dependency that will not appear in the image
+      ${pkgs.hello}/bin/hello
     '';
   };
 
@@ -504,6 +507,11 @@ rec {
     fakeRootCommands = ''
       mkdir -p ./home/jane
       chown 1000 ./home/jane
+      ln -s ${pkgs.hello.overrideAttrs (o: {
+        # A unique `hello` to make sure that it isn't included via another mechanism by accident.
+        configureFlags = o.configureFlags or "" + " --program-prefix=layeredImageWithFakeRootCommands-";
+        doCheck = false;
+      })} ./hello
     '';
   };