diff --git a/pkgs/applications/editors/emacs/default.nix b/pkgs/applications/editors/emacs/default.nix
index 2862ba7184f..98653517b5e 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/editors/emacs/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/editors/emacs/default.nix
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     done
   '';
 
-  installTargets = "tags install";
+  installTargets = [ "tags" "install" ];
 
   postInstall = ''
     mkdir -p $out/share/emacs/site-lisp