diff --git a/pkgs/build-support/release/nix-build.nix b/pkgs/build-support/release/nix-build.nix
index 1d88836c2c8f..a44ef6645a95 100644
--- a/pkgs/build-support/release/nix-build.nix
+++ b/pkgs/build-support/release/nix-build.nix
@@ -22,7 +22,8 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation (
 
     showBuildStats = true;
 
-    phases = "unpackPhase patchPhase configurePhase buildPhase checkPhase installPhase fixupPhase distPhase ${if doCoverageAnalysis then "coverageReportPhase" else ""} finalPhase";
+    postPhases =
+      (optional doCoverageAnalysis "coverageReportPhase") ++ ["finalPhase"];
 
     finalPhase =
       ''