diff --git a/pkgs/development/tools/misc/patchelf/setup-hook.sh b/pkgs/development/tools/misc/patchelf/setup-hook.sh
index e27d1ed5b00..6bc918a4610 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/tools/misc/patchelf/setup-hook.sh
+++ b/pkgs/development/tools/misc/patchelf/setup-hook.sh
@@ -2,9 +2,7 @@
 # directories from the RPATH of every library or executable in every
 # output.
 
-if [ -z "$dontPatchELF" ]; then
-    addHook fixupOutput 'patchELF "$prefix"'
-fi
+addHook fixupOutput 'if [ -z "$dontPatchELF" ]; then patchELF "$prefix"; fi'
 
 patchELF() {
     header "patching ELF executables and libraries in $prefix"