The title compound, C7H8N2O2, formed by dehydration of the corresponding dicarboxamide, crystallizes as rectangular prisms. The mol-ecules have a C 2 axis of symmetry through the C atom bearing the methyl groups and the mid-point of the ring C-C bond, and the 1,3-dioxolane ring adopts the extreme twist conformation of the two possible with this symmetry. This brings the two nitrile groups nearest to a linear arrangement when the mol-ecule is viewed along the ring C-C bond. The correct absolute configuration of the mol-ecule was defined by that of the original starting material, (2R,3R)-tartaric acid. The packing is largely controlled by a number of C-H⋯N interactions.