diff --git a/pkgs/stdenv/generic/make-derivation.nix b/pkgs/stdenv/generic/make-derivation.nix
index c40eaee5e4d6..08cded664254 100644
--- a/pkgs/stdenv/generic/make-derivation.nix
+++ b/pkgs/stdenv/generic/make-derivation.nix
@@ -556,8 +556,8 @@ let
 
   meta = checkMeta.commonMeta {
     inherit validity attrs pos;
-    references = attrs.nativeBuildInputs ++ attrs.buildInputs
-              ++ attrs.propagatedNativeBuildInputs ++ attrs.propagatedBuildInputs;
+    references = attrs.nativeBuildInputs or [] ++ attrs.buildInputs or []
+              ++ attrs.propagatedNativeBuildInputs or [] ++ attrs.propagatedBuildInputs or [];
   };
   validity = checkMeta.assertValidity { inherit meta attrs; };