diff --git a/pkgs/development/interpreters/python/hooks/python-namespaces-hook.sh b/pkgs/development/interpreters/python/hooks/python-namespaces-hook.sh
index 12ae50a19812..37479d9d4111 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/interpreters/python/hooks/python-namespaces-hook.sh
+++ b/pkgs/development/interpreters/python/hooks/python-namespaces-hook.sh
@@ -25,7 +25,12 @@ pythonNamespacesHook() {
             fi
 
             # remove ${pname}-${version}-${python-interpeter}-nspkg.pth
-            if [ -z ${dontRemovePth-} ]; then
+            #
+            # Still need to check that parent directory exists in the
+            # event of a "meta-package" package, which will just install
+            # other packages, but not produce anything in site-packages
+            # besides meta information
+            if [ -d "${constructedPath}/../" -a -z ${dontRemovePth-} ]; then
                 # .pth files are located in the parent directory of a module
                 @findutils@/bin/find ${constructedPath}/../ -name '*-nspkg.pth' -exec rm -v "{}" +
             fi