diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/boost/generic.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/boost/generic.nix
index 274b2486feb..fdfc8b45a68 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/boost/generic.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/boost/generic.nix
@@ -118,8 +118,10 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation {
 
   preConfigure = ''
     NIX_LDFLAGS="$(echo $NIX_LDFLAGS | sed "s,$out,$lib,g")"
-    substituteInPlace tools/build/src/tools/clang-darwin.jam \
-      --replace '$(<[1]:D=)' "$lib/lib/\$(<[1]:D=)"
+    if test -f tools/build/src/tools/clang-darwin.jam ; then
+        substituteInPlace tools/build/src/tools/clang-darwin.jam \
+          --replace '$(<[1]:D=)' "$lib/lib/\$(<[1]:D=)";
+    fi;
   '';
 
   NIX_CFLAGS_LINK = stdenv.lib.optionalString stdenv.isDarwin