diff --git a/pkgs/build-support/setup-hooks/patch-shebangs.sh b/pkgs/build-support/setup-hooks/patch-shebangs.sh
index 38660718d0e..f3ecfdd96e8 100644
--- a/pkgs/build-support/setup-hooks/patch-shebangs.sh
+++ b/pkgs/build-support/setup-hooks/patch-shebangs.sh
@@ -46,7 +46,8 @@ patchShebangs() {
             args="$arg0 $args"
         fi
 
-        newInterpreterLine="$newPath $args"
+        # Strip trailing whitespace introduced when no arguments are present
+        newInterpreterLine=$(echo "$newPath $args" | sed 's/[[:space:]]*$//')
 
         if [ -n "$oldPath" -a "${oldPath:0:${#NIX_STORE}}" != "$NIX_STORE" ]; then
             if [ -n "$newPath" -a "$newPath" != "$oldPath" ]; then