diff --git a/pkgs/stdenv/generic/make-derivation.nix b/pkgs/stdenv/generic/make-derivation.nix
index 7f0b8c2809ad..caa2e412af6e 100644
--- a/pkgs/stdenv/generic/make-derivation.nix
+++ b/pkgs/stdenv/generic/make-derivation.nix
@@ -784,10 +784,14 @@ let
                 inherit name;
                 value =
                   let
-                    raw = zipAttrsWith (_: concatLists) [
-                      attrsOutputChecksFiltered
-                      (makeOutputChecks attrs.outputChecks.${name} or { })
-                    ];
+                    raw =
+                      if attrs ? outputChecks.${name} then
+                        zipAttrsWith (_: concatLists) [
+                          attrsOutputChecksFiltered
+                          (makeOutputChecks attrs.outputChecks.${name})
+                        ]
+                      else
+                        attrsOutputChecksFiltered;
                   in
                   # separateDebugInfo = true will put all sorts of files in
                   # the debug output which could carry references, but