diff --git a/pkgs/tools/virtualization/nixos-container/nixos-container.pl b/pkgs/tools/virtualization/nixos-container/nixos-container.pl
index 84cfc9aa586..207177133a5 100755
--- a/pkgs/tools/virtualization/nixos-container/nixos-container.pl
+++ b/pkgs/tools/virtualization/nixos-container/nixos-container.pl
@@ -270,7 +270,7 @@ if ($action eq "destroy") {
 
     safeRemoveTree($profileDir) if -e $profileDir;
     safeRemoveTree($gcRootsDir) if -e $gcRootsDir;
-    system("chattr", "-i", "$root/var/empty") if -e $root;
+    system("chattr", "-i", "$root/var/empty") if -e "$root/var/empty";
     safeRemoveTree($root) if -e $root;
     unlink($confFile) or die;
 }