diff --git a/pkgs/build-support/fetchpatch/default.nix b/pkgs/build-support/fetchpatch/default.nix
index aae62b688739..b350a0a809fa 100644
--- a/pkgs/build-support/fetchpatch/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/build-support/fetchpatch/default.nix
@@ -38,10 +38,10 @@ in
 let
   inherit (args') stripLen extraPrefix;
 in
-lib.throwIfNot (excludes == [ ] || includes == [ ])
-  "fetchpatch: cannot use excludes and includes simultaneously"
-  fetchurl
-  (
+if excludes != [ ] && includes != [ ] then
+  throw "fetchpatch: cannot use excludes and includes simultaneously"
+else
+  fetchurl (
     {
       nativeBuildInputs = [ patchutils ] ++ nativeBuildInputs;
       postFetch = ''