diff --git a/pkgs/stdenv/generic/setup.sh b/pkgs/stdenv/generic/setup.sh
index 331ec8dc5dcd..deb18ed93213 100644
--- a/pkgs/stdenv/generic/setup.sh
+++ b/pkgs/stdenv/generic/setup.sh
@@ -774,6 +774,8 @@ fixupPhase() {
 fixupPrefix() {
     local prefix="$1"
 
+    if ! [ -d "$prefix" ]; then return; fi
+
     # Put man/doc/info under share/.
     forceShare=${forceShare:=man doc info}
     if [ -n "$forceShare" ]; then