diff --git a/gnu/packages/golang.scm b/gnu/packages/golang.scm
index da8ad3d7fe..ff21bcdba9 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/golang.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/golang.scm
@@ -223,11 +223,11 @@ in the style of communicating sequential processes (@dfn{CSP}).")
     (supported-systems '("x86_64-linux" "i686-linux" "armhf-linux" "aarch64-linux"))
     (license license:bsd-3)))
 
-(define-public go-1.11
+(define-public go-1.12
   (package
     (inherit go-1.4)
     (name "go")
-    (version "1.11.5")
+    (version "1.12")
     (source
      (origin
        (method url-fetch)
@@ -235,23 +235,11 @@ in the style of communicating sequential processes (@dfn{CSP}).")
                            name version ".src.tar.gz"))
        (sha256
         (base32
-         "0gllmbjvp12iszwils8id78mvjxwviwf98lh2gdkb236n4mz07mw"))))
+         "1wl8kq21fbzmv4plnaza5acz8dhbaaq6smjzk3r6cf3l6qrkvi09"))))
     (arguments
      (substitute-keyword-arguments (package-arguments go-1.4)
        ((#:phases phases)
         `(modify-phases ,phases
-           ;; XXX Work around the Go 1.11.5 tarbomb.
-           ;; <https://github.com/golang/go/issues/29906>
-           (add-after 'unpack 'tarbomb-workaround
-             (lambda _
-               (chdir "..")
-               (delete-file-recursively "gocache")
-               (delete-file-recursively "tmp")
-               #t))
-           (replace 'chdir
-             (lambda _
-               (chdir "go/src")
-               #t))
            (replace 'prebuild
              (lambda* (#:key inputs outputs #:allow-other-keys)
                (let* ((gcclib (string-append (assoc-ref inputs "gcc:lib") "/lib"))
@@ -276,8 +264,10 @@ in the style of communicating sequential processes (@dfn{CSP}).")
                              ;; can not find crt1.o despite being present.
                              "cmd/go/testdata/script/list_compiled_imports.txt"
                              "cmd/go/testdata/script/mod_case_cgo.txt"
-                             ;; https://github.com/golang/go/issues/24884
-                             "os/user/user_test.go"))
+                             ;; XXX fails to find "asm/socket.h"
+                             "cmd/go/testdata/script/list_find.txt"
+                             ;; XXX fails to find "linux/errno.h"
+                             "cmd/go/testdata/script/cgo_syso_issue29253.txt"))
 
                  (substitute* "os/os_test.go"
                    (("/usr/bin") (getcwd))
@@ -352,19 +342,16 @@ in the style of communicating sequential processes (@dfn{CSP}).")
                  (substitute* (find-files "cmd" "\\.go")
                    (("/lib(64)?/ld-linux.*\\.so\\.[0-9]") loader))
                  #t)))
-           (add-before 'build 'set-bootstrap-variables
-             (lambda* (#:key outputs inputs #:allow-other-keys)
-               ;; Tell the build system where to find the bootstrap Go.
-               (let ((go  (assoc-ref inputs "go")))
-                 (setenv "GOROOT_BOOTSTRAP" go)
-                 (setenv "GOGC" "400")
-                 #t)))
            (replace 'build
              (lambda* (#:key inputs outputs #:allow-other-keys)
                ;; FIXME: Some of the .a files are not bit-reproducible.
-               (let* ((output (assoc-ref outputs "out")))
+               (let ((go (assoc-ref inputs "go"))
+                     (output (assoc-ref outputs "out")))
+                 (setenv "HOME" "/tmp")
+                 (setenv "GOGC" "400") ; XXX necessary?
                  (setenv "CC" (which "gcc"))
                  (setenv "GOOS" "linux")
+                 (setenv "GOROOT_BOOTSTRAP" go)
                  (setenv "GOROOT" (dirname (getcwd)))
                  (setenv "GOROOT_FINAL" output)
                  (setenv "CGO_ENABLED" "1")
@@ -415,7 +402,7 @@ in the style of communicating sequential processes (@dfn{CSP}).")
        ,@(package-native-inputs go-1.4)))
     (supported-systems %supported-systems)))
 
-(define-public go go-1.11)
+(define-public go go-1.12)
 
 (define-public go-github-com-alsm-ioprogress
   (let ((commit "063c3725f436e7fba0c8f588547bee21ffec7ac5")
diff --git a/guix/build/go-build-system.scm b/guix/build/go-build-system.scm
index 022d4fe16b..c4f55b06ee 100644
--- a/guix/build/go-build-system.scm
+++ b/guix/build/go-build-system.scm
@@ -172,6 +172,7 @@ respectively."
     (if (getenv "GOPATH")
       (setenv "GOPATH" (string-append (getcwd) ":" (getenv "GOPATH")))
       (setenv "GOPATH" (getcwd)))
+    (setenv "HOME" "/tmp")
     ;; Where to install compiled executable files ('commands' in Go parlance').
     (setenv "GOBIN" (string-append out "/bin"))
     #t))
