diff --git a/pkgs/top-level/stage.nix b/pkgs/top-level/stage.nix
index be333d3bddc1..e718bda745c5 100644
--- a/pkgs/top-level/stage.nix
+++ b/pkgs/top-level/stage.nix
@@ -264,7 +264,10 @@ let
     # in one go when calling Nixpkgs, for performance and simplicity.
     appendOverlays =
       extraOverlays:
-      if extraOverlays == [ ] then self else nixpkgsFun { overlays = args.overlays ++ extraOverlays; };
+      if extraOverlays == [ ] then
+        self.__splicedPackages
+      else
+        nixpkgsFun { overlays = args.overlays ++ extraOverlays; };
 
     # NOTE: each call to extend causes a full nixpkgs rebuild, adding ~130MB
     #       of allocations. DO NOT USE THIS IN NIXPKGS.