diff --git a/pkgs/build-support/make-pkgconfigitem/default.nix b/pkgs/build-support/make-pkgconfigitem/default.nix
index d78d1c022f9e..0502c70ee860 100644
--- a/pkgs/build-support/make-pkgconfigitem/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/build-support/make-pkgconfigitem/default.nix
@@ -34,7 +34,8 @@ let
 
   keywordsSection =
     let
-      mustBeAList = attr: attrName: lib.throwIfNot (lib.isList attr) "'${attrName}' must be a list" attr;
+      mustBeAList =
+        attr: attrName: if !(lib.isList attr) then throw "'${attrName}' must be a list" else attr;
     in
     {
       "Name" = name;