diff --git a/gnu/build/hurd-boot.scm b/gnu/build/hurd-boot.scm
index f4b6dc734d..aea2ac3307 100644
--- a/gnu/build/hurd-boot.scm
+++ b/gnu/build/hurd-boot.scm
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ (define* (set-translator file-name command #:optional (mode #o600))
             (chmod port mode)))))
     (catch 'system-error
       (lambda _
-        (apply invoke "settrans" "--create" file-name command))
+        (setxattr file-name "gnu.translator" (string-join command "\0" 'suffix)))
       (lambda (key . args)
         (let ((errno (system-error-errno (cons key args))))
           (format (current-error-port) "~a: ~a\n"
diff --git a/gnu/system.scm b/gnu/system.scm
index d51691fe76..25cc63a9df 100644
--- a/gnu/system.scm
+++ b/gnu/system.scm
@@ -1191,6 +1191,7 @@ (define (hurd-multiboot-modules os)
                 "--device-master-port='${device-port}'"
                 "--exec-server-task='${exec-task}'"
                 "--store-type=typed"
+                "--x-xattr-translator-records"
                 "'${root}'" "'$(task-create)'" "'$(task-resume)'"))
          (target (%current-target-system))
          (libc (if target