diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/openssl/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/openssl/default.nix
index f706ba97f7f5..0c32bf034387 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/openssl/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/openssl/default.nix
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ let
     };
 
     patches =
-      args.patches
+      (args.patches or [])
       ++ optional (versionOlder version "1.1.0") ./use-etc-ssl-certs.patch
       ++ optional stdenv.isCygwin ./1.0.1-cygwin64.patch
       ++ optional