diff --git a/lib/strings.nix b/lib/strings.nix
index bda96fb32da..0e3137f42ee 100644
--- a/lib/strings.nix
+++ b/lib/strings.nix
@@ -88,15 +88,14 @@ rec {
   makeSearchPath = subDir: packages:
     concatStringsSep ":" (map (path: path + "/" + subDir) packages);
 
-  /* Construct a Unix-style search path, given trying outputs in order.
+  /* Construct a Unix-style search path, using given package output.
      If no output is found, fallback to `.out` and then to the default.
 
      Example:
-       makeSearchPathOutputs "bin" ["bin"] [ pkgs.openssl pkgs.zlib ]
-       => "/nix/store/9rz8gxhzf8sw4kf2j2f1grr49w8zx5vj-openssl-1.0.1r-bin/bin:/nix/store/wwh7mhwh269sfjkm6k5665b5kgp7jrk2-zlib-1.2.8/bin"
+       makeSearchPathOutput "dev" "bin" [ pkgs.openssl pkgs.zlib ]
+       => "/nix/store/9rz8gxhzf8sw4kf2j2f1grr49w8zx5vj-openssl-1.0.1r-dev/bin:/nix/store/wwh7mhwh269sfjkm6k5665b5kgp7jrk2-zlib-1.2.8/bin"
   */
-  makeSearchPathOutputs = subDir: outputs: pkgs:
-    makeSearchPath subDir (map (pkg: if pkg.outputUnspecified or false then lib.tryAttrs (outputs ++ ["out"]) pkg else pkg) pkgs);
+  makeSearchPathOutput = output: subDir: pkgs: makeSearchPath subDir (map (lib.getOutput output) pkgs);
 
   /* Construct a library search path (such as RPATH) containing the
      libraries for a set of packages
diff --git a/nixos/modules/services/web-servers/apache-httpd/trac.nix b/nixos/modules/services/web-servers/apache-httpd/trac.nix
index c4aa6b6ad3a..3196edc2838 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/services/web-servers/apache-httpd/trac.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/services/web-servers/apache-httpd/trac.nix
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ in
   globalEnvVars = singleton
     { name = "PYTHONPATH";
       value =
-        makeSearchPathOutputs "lib/${pkgs.python.libPrefix}/site-packages" ["lib"]
+        makeSearchPathOutput "lib" "lib/${pkgs.python.libPrefix}/site-packages"
           [ pkgs.mod_python
             pkgs.pythonPackages.trac
             pkgs.setuptools
diff --git a/nixos/modules/services/x11/desktop-managers/enlightenment.nix b/nixos/modules/services/x11/desktop-managers/enlightenment.nix
index 11df7297833..2e788d86960 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/services/x11/desktop-managers/enlightenment.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/services/x11/desktop-managers/enlightenment.nix
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ let
   e = pkgs.enlightenment;
   xcfg = config.services.xserver;
   cfg = xcfg.desktopManager.enlightenment;
-  GST_PLUGIN_PATH = lib.makeSearchPathOutputs "lib/gstreamer-1.0" ["lib"] [
+  GST_PLUGIN_PATH = lib.makeSearchPathOutput "lib" "lib/gstreamer-1.0" [
     pkgs.gst_all_1.gst-plugins-base
     pkgs.gst_all_1.gst-plugins-good
     pkgs.gst_all_1.gst-plugins-bad
diff --git a/nixos/modules/system/boot/loader/grub/grub.nix b/nixos/modules/system/boot/loader/grub/grub.nix
index 289405f9319..7fc467b60f7 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/system/boot/loader/grub/grub.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/system/boot/loader/grub/grub.nix
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ let
       path = (makeBinPath ([
         pkgs.coreutils pkgs.gnused pkgs.gnugrep pkgs.findutils pkgs.diffutils pkgs.btrfs-progs
         pkgs.utillinux ] ++ (if cfg.efiSupport && (cfg.version == 2) then [pkgs.efibootmgr ] else [])
-      )) + ":" + (makeSearchPathOutputs "sbin" ["bin"] [
+      )) + ":" + (makeSearchPathOutput "bin" "sbin" [
         pkgs.mdadm pkgs.utillinux
       ]);
     });
diff --git a/nixos/modules/system/boot/systemd-unit-options.nix b/nixos/modules/system/boot/systemd-unit-options.nix
index c8c9cda913c..f2a22e4ada8 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/system/boot/systemd-unit-options.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/system/boot/systemd-unit-options.nix
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ in rec {
 
     path = mkOption {
       default = [];
-      apply = ps: "${makeBinPath ps}:${makeSearchPathOutputs "sbin" ["bin"] ps}";
+      apply = ps: "${makeBinPath ps}:${makeSearchPathOutput "bin" "sbin" ps}";
       description = ''
         Packages added to the service's <envar>PATH</envar>
         environment variable.  Both the <filename>bin</filename>
diff --git a/pkgs/applications/misc/guake/default.nix b/pkgs/applications/misc/guake/default.nix
index 81ac845c5cf..6290f082734 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/misc/guake/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/misc/guake/default.nix
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ gconftool-2 --recursive-unset /apps/guake
 with lib;
 
 let inputs = [ dbus gtk2 gconf python2 libutempter vte keybinder gnome3.gnome_common ];
-    pyPath = makeSearchPathOutputs python2.sitePackages ["lib"] (attrVals [ "dbus" "notify" "pyGtkGlade" "pyxdg" ] python2Packages ++ [ gnome2.gnome_python ]);
+    pyPath = makeSearchPathOutput "lib" python2.sitePackages (attrVals [ "dbus" "notify" "pyGtkGlade" "pyxdg" ] python2Packages ++ [ gnome2.gnome_python ]);
  in stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
   name = "guake-${version}";
   version = "0.8.3";
diff --git a/pkgs/applications/misc/roxterm/default.nix b/pkgs/applications/misc/roxterm/default.nix
index ec055f3055f..d8f44ba5cdb 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/misc/roxterm/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/misc/roxterm/default.nix
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ in stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
                          "-I${dbus_libs.lib}/lib/dbus-1.0/include" ];
 
   # Fix up python path so the lockfile library is on it.
-  PYTHONPATH = stdenv.lib.makeSearchPathOutputs pythonFull.sitePackages ["lib"] [
+  PYTHONPATH = stdenv.lib.makeSearchPathOutput "lib" pythonFull.sitePackages [
     pythonPackages.curses pythonPackages.lockfile
   ];
 
diff --git a/pkgs/applications/networking/browsers/chromium/plugins.nix b/pkgs/applications/networking/browsers/chromium/plugins.nix
index b7883454b34..ac7f8111212 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/networking/browsers/chromium/plugins.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/networking/browsers/chromium/plugins.nix
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ let
 
     patchPhase = let
       rpaths = [ stdenv.cc.cc ];
-      mkrpath = p: "${makeSearchPathOutputs "lib64" ["lib"] p}:${makeLibraryPath p}";
+      mkrpath = p: "${makeSearchPathOutput "lib" "lib64" p}:${makeLibraryPath p}";
     in ''
       for sofile in PepperFlash/libpepflashplayer.so \
                     libwidevinecdm.so libwidevinecdmadapter.so; do
diff --git a/pkgs/applications/networking/browsers/firefox-bin/default.nix b/pkgs/applications/networking/browsers/firefox-bin/default.nix
index 152089286b4..d07aec33eb0 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/networking/browsers/firefox-bin/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/networking/browsers/firefox-bin/default.nix
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation {
       libheimdal
       libpulseaudio
       systemd
-    ] + ":" + stdenv.lib.makeSearchPathOutputs "lib64" ["lib"] [
+    ] + ":" + stdenv.lib.makeSearchPathOutput "lib" "lib64" [
       stdenv.cc.cc
     ];
 
diff --git a/pkgs/applications/networking/browsers/google-chrome/default.nix b/pkgs/applications/networking/browsers/google-chrome/default.nix
index 77f0d1693da..3042f30e000 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/networking/browsers/google-chrome/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/networking/browsers/google-chrome/default.nix
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ in stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     tar xf data.tar.xz
   '';
 
-  rpath = makeLibraryPath deps + ":" + makeSearchPathOutputs "lib64" ["lib"] deps;
+  rpath = makeLibraryPath deps + ":" + makeSearchPathOutput "lib" "lib64" deps;
   binpath = makeBinPath deps;
 
   installPhase = ''
diff --git a/pkgs/applications/networking/browsers/opera/default.nix b/pkgs/applications/networking/browsers/opera/default.nix
index 325e855ec72..a00905cf937 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/networking/browsers/opera/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/networking/browsers/opera/default.nix
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
 
   libPath = stdenv.lib.makeLibraryPath buildInputs
     + stdenv.lib.optionalString (stdenv.system == "x86_64-linux")
-      (":" + stdenv.lib.makeSearchPathOutputs "lib64" ["lib"] buildInputs);
+      (":" + stdenv.lib.makeSearchPathOutput "lib" "lib64" buildInputs);
 
   preFixup =
     ''
diff --git a/pkgs/applications/networking/browsers/vivaldi/default.nix b/pkgs/applications/networking/browsers/vivaldi/default.nix
index 7c3c167cf32..c8931811548 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/networking/browsers/vivaldi/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/networking/browsers/vivaldi/default.nix
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
 
   libPath = stdenv.lib.makeLibraryPath buildInputs
     + stdenv.lib.optionalString (stdenv.system == "x86_64-linux")
-      (":" + stdenv.lib.makeSearchPathOutputs "lib64" ["lib"] buildInputs);
+      (":" + stdenv.lib.makeSearchPathOutput "lib" "lib64" buildInputs);
 
   buildPhase = ''
     echo "Patching Vivaldi binaries"
diff --git a/pkgs/applications/networking/mailreaders/thunderbird-bin/default.nix b/pkgs/applications/networking/mailreaders/thunderbird-bin/default.nix
index bbb51c7c186..f974265aa6e 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/networking/mailreaders/thunderbird-bin/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/networking/mailreaders/thunderbird-bin/default.nix
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation {
       nspr
       nss
       pango
-    ] + ":" + stdenv.lib.makeSearchPathOutputs "lib64" ["lib"] [
+    ] + ":" + stdenv.lib.makeSearchPathOutput "lib" "lib64" [
       stdenv.cc.cc
     ];
 
diff --git a/pkgs/applications/science/math/mathematica/9.nix b/pkgs/applications/science/math/mathematica/9.nix
index 2a43cf5677f..07a20b4ebe0 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/science/math/mathematica/9.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/science/math/mathematica/9.nix
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
 
   ldpath = stdenv.lib.makeLibraryPath buildInputs
     + stdenv.lib.optionalString (stdenv.system == "x86_64-linux")
-      (":" + stdenv.lib.makeSearchPathOutputs "lib64" ["lib"] buildInputs);
+      (":" + stdenv.lib.makeSearchPathOutput "lib" "lib64" buildInputs);
 
   phases = "unpackPhase installPhase fixupPhase";
 
diff --git a/pkgs/applications/science/math/mathematica/default.nix b/pkgs/applications/science/math/mathematica/default.nix
index c2988331c4c..4de4a0c261d 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/science/math/mathematica/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/science/math/mathematica/default.nix
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
 
   ldpath = stdenv.lib.makeLibraryPath buildInputs
     + stdenv.lib.optionalString (stdenv.system == "x86_64-linux")
-      (":" + stdenv.lib.makeSearchPathOutputs "lib64" ["lib"] buildInputs);
+      (":" + stdenv.lib.makeSearchPathOutput "lib" "lib64" buildInputs);
 
   phases = "unpackPhase installPhase fixupPhase";
 
diff --git a/pkgs/applications/version-management/reposurgeon/default.nix b/pkgs/applications/version-management/reposurgeon/default.nix
index 669151adbcc..55858034b1c 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/version-management/reposurgeon/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/version-management/reposurgeon/default.nix
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ mkDerivation rec {
         [ out git bazaar cvs darcs fossil mercurial
           monotone rcs src subversion cvs_fast_export ]
       );
-      pythonpath = makeSearchPathOutputs python27.sitePackages ["lib"] (
+      pythonpath = makeSearchPathOutput "lib" python27.sitePackages (
         filter (x: x != null)
         [ python27Packages.readline or null python27Packages.hglib or null ]
       );
diff --git a/pkgs/games/ue4demos/default.nix b/pkgs/games/ue4demos/default.nix
index 963dde91068..4bac1cd1bb3 100644
--- a/pkgs/games/ue4demos/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/games/ue4demos/default.nix
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ let
 
       rtdeps = stdenv.lib.makeLibraryPath
         [ xorg.libXxf86vm xorg.libXext openal ]
-        + ":" + stdenv.lib.makeSearchPathOutputs "lib64" ["lib"] [ stdenv.cc.cc ];
+        + ":" + stdenv.lib.makeSearchPathOutput "lib" "lib64" [ stdenv.cc.cc ];
 
       buildCommand =
       ''
diff --git a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/pm-utils/default.nix b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/pm-utils/default.nix
index cb74dc204a3..e2257642d0b 100644
--- a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/pm-utils/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/pm-utils/default.nix
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ let
   binPath = stdenv.lib.makeBinPath
     [ coreutils gnugrep utillinux kmod procps kbd dbus_tools ];
 
-  sbinPath = stdenv.lib.makeSearchPathOutputs "sbin" ["bin"]
+  sbinPath = stdenv.lib.makeSearchPathOutput "bin" "sbin"
     [ procps ];
 
 in