diff --git a/plugin/install/install.go b/plugin/install/install.go
index 60c61550..d7573c2d 100644
--- a/plugin/install/install.go
+++ b/plugin/install/install.go
@@ -151,6 +151,7 @@ func isOSCompatible(zipfile string) bool {
 
 // InstallPluginFromZipFile installs plugin from given zip file
 func InstallPluginFromZipFile(zipFile string, pluginName string) InstallResult {
+	CheckForNixStore(fmt.Sprintf("Tried to install the plugin `%s`.", pluginName))
 	if !isPlatformIndependent(zipFile) && !isOSCompatible(zipFile) {
 		err := fmt.Errorf("provided plugin is not compatible with OS %s %s", runtime.GOOS, runtime.GOARCH)
 		return installError(err)
@@ -314,6 +315,7 @@ func runPlatformCommands(commands platformSpecificCommand, workingDir string) er
 // UninstallPlugin uninstall the given plugin of the given uninstallVersion
 // If uninstallVersion is not specified, it uninstalls all the versions of given plugin
 func UninstallPlugin(pluginName string, uninstallVersion string) {
+	CheckForNixStore(fmt.Sprintf("Tried to uninstall the plugin `%s`.", pluginName))
 	pluginsHome, err := common.GetPrimaryPluginsInstallDir()
 	if err != nil {
 		logger.Fatalf(true, "Failed to uninstall plugin %s. %s", pluginName, err.Error())
@@ -518,6 +520,7 @@ func AllPlugins(silent, languageOnly bool) {
 
 // UpdatePlugins updates all the currently installed plugins to its latest version
 func UpdatePlugins(silent bool) {
+	CheckForNixStore("Tried to update plugins")
 	var failedPlugin []string
 	pluginInfos, err := pluginInfo.GetPluginsInfo()
 	if err != nil {
@@ -673,3 +676,21 @@ func AddPluginToProject(pluginName string) error {
 	logger.Infof(true, "Plugin %s was successfully added to the project\n", pluginName)
 	return nil
 }
+
+func CheckForNixStore(message string) error {
+	installDir, err := common.GetPrimaryPluginsInstallDir()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if strings.HasPrefix(installDir, "/nix/store") {
+
+		// check if we're installing in the sandbox
+		if os.Getenv("NIX_GAUGE_IN_SANDBOX") == "true" {
+			return nil
+		}
+		logger.Errorf(true, "%s\ngauge is installed with nix.\nPlease install plugins using nix or use the `gauge-unwrapped` package.", message)
+		os.Exit(1)
+
+	}
+	return nil
+}