diff --git a/pkgs/stdenv/generic/setup.sh b/pkgs/stdenv/generic/setup.sh
index 47e90fb05609..3a192b820282 100644
--- a/pkgs/stdenv/generic/setup.sh
+++ b/pkgs/stdenv/generic/setup.sh
@@ -733,7 +733,7 @@ fixupPhase() {
     runHook preFixup
 
     # Make sure everything is writable so "strip" et al. work.
-    chmod -R u+w "$prefix"
+    if [ -e "$prefix" ]; then chmod -R u+w "$prefix"; fi
 
     # Put man/doc/info under $out/share.
     forceShare=${forceShare:=man doc info}