diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/qt-5/hooks/wrap-qt-apps-hook.sh b/pkgs/development/libraries/qt-5/hooks/wrap-qt-apps-hook.sh
index d9e5880289d..f591ef2fb42 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/qt-5/hooks/wrap-qt-apps-hook.sh
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/qt-5/hooks/wrap-qt-apps-hook.sh
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # Inherit arguments given in mkDerivation
-qtWrapperArgs=( $qtWrapperArgs )
+qtWrapperArgs=( ${qtWrapperArgs-} )
 
 qtHostPathSeen=()