diff --git a/pkgs/tools/security/fail2ban/default.nix b/pkgs/tools/security/fail2ban/default.nix
index 06b4ddc0621..92848def1d1 100644
--- a/pkgs/tools/security/fail2ban/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/tools/security/fail2ban/default.nix
@@ -47,7 +47,10 @@ python3.pkgs.buildPythonApplication rec {
     in
     ''
       # see https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/issues/4968
-      rm -rf ${sitePackages}/etc ${sitePackages}/usr
+      rm -r "${sitePackages}/etc"
+    '' + lib.optionalString stdenv.isLinux ''
+      # see https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/issues/4968
+      rm -r "${sitePackages}/usr"
     '';
 
   meta = with lib; {