diff --git a/pkgs/stdenv/generic/setup.sh b/pkgs/stdenv/generic/setup.sh
index c5722c3e874..a474b6a8eaf 100644
--- a/pkgs/stdenv/generic/setup.sh
+++ b/pkgs/stdenv/generic/setup.sh
@@ -530,8 +530,6 @@ unpackPhase() {
 patchPhase() {
     runHook prePatch
 
-    if [ -z "$patchPhase" -a -z "$patches" ]; then return; fi
-
     for i in $patches; do
         header "applying patch $i" 3
         local uncompress=cat
diff --git a/pkgs/stdenv/mingw/setup.sh b/pkgs/stdenv/mingw/setup.sh
index 4de3c0ddc9b..592580a829e 100755
--- a/pkgs/stdenv/mingw/setup.sh
+++ b/pkgs/stdenv/mingw/setup.sh
@@ -486,9 +486,7 @@ unpackPhase() {
 
 patchPhase() {
     runHook prePatch
-    
-    if test -z "$patchPhase" -a -z "$patches"; then return; fi
-    
+
     for i in $patches; do
         header "applying patch $i" 3
         local uncompress=cat