diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 16392c34..f770d1be 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -17,6 +17,10 @@ and this project adheres to
   `setup-x86_64.exe`).
 - The Windows runner no longer prepends `%CYGWIN_ROOT%\bin` to `PATH`.
 
+### Fixed
+
+- Switches in Unix are now properly initialized before running depext.
+
 ## [1.1.7]
 
 ### Changed
diff --git a/dist/install-ocaml-unix.sh b/dist/install-ocaml-unix.sh
index 99ec4254..6e27fb81 100755
--- a/dist/install-ocaml-unix.sh
+++ b/dist/install-ocaml-unix.sh
@@ -9,4 +9,7 @@ CURRENT_OCAML=$(opam info -f version ocaml --color=never)
 
 if [ "$CURRENT_OCAML" != "$1" ]; then
   opam switch set "$1" 2>/dev/null || opam switch create "$1" "$1"
+else
+  # opam has been initialized with --bare, the switch needs to be activated
+  opam switch set "$1" 2>/dev/null
 fi
diff --git a/src/install-ocaml-unix.sh b/src/install-ocaml-unix.sh
index 99ec4254..6e27fb81 100755
--- a/src/install-ocaml-unix.sh
+++ b/src/install-ocaml-unix.sh
@@ -9,4 +9,7 @@ CURRENT_OCAML=$(opam info -f version ocaml --color=never)
 
 if [ "$CURRENT_OCAML" != "$1" ]; then
   opam switch set "$1" 2>/dev/null || opam switch create "$1" "$1"
+else
+  # opam has been initialized with --bare, the switch needs to be activated
+  opam switch set "$1" 2>/dev/null
 fi