diff --git a/srcpkgs/base-files/INSTALL b/srcpkgs/base-files/INSTALL
index 85a7f92cd4e..c9e020948f2 100644
--- a/srcpkgs/base-files/INSTALL
+++ b/srcpkgs/base-files/INSTALL
@@ -38,8 +38,8 @@ make_system_dirs() {
 
 	# Create /var/run and /var/lock symlinks.
 	for d in run lock; do
-		if [ ! -h "var/$d" -a -d var/${d} ]; then
-			echo "/${d} must not be a directory, exiting!"
+		if [ ! -h "var/${d}" -a -d "var/${d}" ]; then
+			echo "/var/${d} must not be a directory, exiting!"
 			exit 1
 		fi
 	done