diff --git a/pkgs/stdenv/generic/setup.sh b/pkgs/stdenv/generic/setup.sh
index 3cc84c9db5e..1ed905db363 100644
--- a/pkgs/stdenv/generic/setup.sh
+++ b/pkgs/stdenv/generic/setup.sh
@@ -685,14 +685,14 @@ patchShebangs() {
                 echo "unsupported interpreter directive \"$oldInterpreterLine\" (set dontPatchShebangs=1 and handle shebang patching yourself)"
                 exit 1
             fi
-            newPath="$(command -v "$arg0")"
+            newPath="$(command -v "$arg0" || true)"
         else
             if [ "$oldPath" = "" ]; then
                 # If no interpreter is specified linux will use /bin/sh. Set
                 # oldpath="/bin/sh" so that we get /nix/store/.../sh.
                 oldPath="/bin/sh"
             fi
-            newPath="$(command -v "$(basename "$oldPath")")"
+            newPath="$(command -v "$(basename "$oldPath")" || true)"
             args="$arg0 $args"
         fi