diff --git a/pkgs/applications/editors/emacs/build-support/melpa.nix b/pkgs/applications/editors/emacs/build-support/melpa.nix
index bda412a0957f..e129e3ebdeb0 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/editors/emacs/build-support/melpa.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/editors/emacs/build-support/melpa.nix
@@ -126,6 +126,11 @@ EOF
   buildPhase = args.buildPhase or ''
     runHook preBuild
 
+    # This is modified from stdenv buildPhase. foundMakefile is used in stdenv checkPhase.
+    if [[ ! ( -z "''${makeFlags-}" && -z "''${makefile:-}" && ! ( -e Makefile || -e makefile || -e GNUmakefile ) ) ]]; then
+      foundMakefile=1
+    fi
+
     pushd "$NIX_BUILD_TOP"
 
     emacs --batch -Q \
diff --git a/pkgs/applications/editors/emacs/build-support/trivial.nix b/pkgs/applications/editors/emacs/build-support/trivial.nix
index 2c20b0567c68..8c515363f427 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/editors/emacs/build-support/trivial.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/editors/emacs/build-support/trivial.nix
@@ -14,6 +14,11 @@ args:
   buildPhase = args.buildPhase or ''
     runHook preBuild
 
+    # This is modified from stdenv buildPhase. foundMakefile is used in stdenv checkPhase.
+    if [[ ! ( -z "''${makeFlags-}" && -z "''${makefile:-}" && ! ( -e Makefile || -e makefile || -e GNUmakefile ) ) ]]; then
+      foundMakefile=1
+    fi
+
     emacs -L . --batch -f batch-byte-compile *.el
 
     runHook postBuild