diff --git a/pkgs/development/coq-modules/Verdi/default.nix b/pkgs/development/coq-modules/Verdi/default.nix
index 190758855f7..80b964b3904 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/coq-modules/Verdi/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/coq-modules/Verdi/default.nix
@@ -21,5 +21,9 @@ with lib; mkCoqDerivation {
   release."20181102".sha256 = "1vw47c37k5vaa8vbr6ryqy8riagngwcrfmb3rai37yi9xhdqg55z";
 
   propagatedBuildInputs = [ Cheerios InfSeqExt ssreflect ];
-  preConfigure = "patchShebangs ./configure";
+  preConfigure = ''
+    if [ -f ./configure ]; then
+      patchShebangs ./configure
+    fi
+  '';
 }