diff --git a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/perf.nix b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/perf.nix
index cc5ec7f2f24..83de0effcec 100644
--- a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/perf.nix
+++ b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/perf.nix
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation {
   preConfigure = ''
     cd tools/perf
     sed -i s,/usr/include/elfutils,$elfutils/include/elfutils, Makefile
-    sed -i 's,^have perf,_have perf,' bash_completion
+    -f bash_completion && sed -i 's,^have perf,_have perf,' bash_completion
     export makeFlags="DESTDIR=$out $makeFlags"
   '';