diff --git a/pkgs/development/interpreters/lfe/default.nix b/pkgs/development/interpreters/lfe/default.nix
index 33ad3d90bae0..1ec1f7a31f73 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/interpreters/lfe/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/interpreters/lfe/default.nix
@@ -68,18 +68,23 @@ else
 
     beamDeps = [ proper ];
 
-    makeFlags = [
-      "-e"
-      "MANDB=''"
-      "PREFIX=$$out"
-    ];
-
     # override buildRebar3's install to let the builder use make install
-    installPhase = "";
+    installPhase = ''
+      runHook preInstall
+      make -e MANDB= PREFIX=$out install
+      runHook postInstall
+    '';
 
     doCheck = true;
     checkTarget = "travis";
 
+    doInstallCheck = true;
+    installCheckPhase = ''
+      runHook preInstallCheck
+      test -e $out/bin/lfe
+      runHook postInstallCheck
+    '';
+
     postFixup = ''
       # LFE binaries are shell scripts which run erl and lfe.
       # Add some stuff to PATH so the scripts can run without problems.