diff --git a/pkgs/development/interpreters/python/mk-python-derivation.nix b/pkgs/development/interpreters/python/mk-python-derivation.nix
index c2099c6c4d4b..b79d5325a4f3 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/interpreters/python/mk-python-derivation.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/interpreters/python/mk-python-derivation.nix
@@ -308,9 +308,11 @@ let
         #
         pythonCatchConflictsHook
       ]
-      ++ optionals (attrs ? pythonRelaxDeps || attrs ? pythonRemoveDeps) [
-        pythonRelaxDepsHook
-      ]
+      ++
+        optionals (finalAttrs.pythonRelaxDeps or [ ] != [ ] || finalAttrs.pythonRemoveDeps or [ ] != [ ])
+          [
+            pythonRelaxDepsHook
+          ]
       ++ optionals removeBinBytecode [
         pythonRemoveBinBytecodeHook
       ]