diff --git a/pkgs/stdenv/generic/default.nix b/pkgs/stdenv/generic/default.nix
index 372fd3cfa52..f969d246ff5 100644
--- a/pkgs/stdenv/generic/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/stdenv/generic/default.nix
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ let
       throw "whitelistedLicenses and blacklistedLicenses are not mutually exclusive.";
 
   hasLicense = attrs:
-    builtins.hasAttr "meta" attrs && builtins.hasAttr "license" attrs.meta;
+    attrs ? meta.license;
 
   hasWhitelistedLicense = assert areLicenseListsValid; attrs:
     hasLicense attrs && builtins.elem attrs.meta.license whitelist;