diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/libguestfs/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/libguestfs/default.nix
index bf8750ffdd0e..745b1a180008 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/libguestfs/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/libguestfs/default.nix
@@ -35,12 +35,13 @@
 , perlPackages
 , ocamlPackages
 , libtirpc
-, withAppliance ? true
-, appliance
+, appliance ? null
 , javaSupport ? false
 , jdk
 }:
 
+assert appliance == null || lib.isDerivation appliance;
+
 stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
   pname = "libguestfs";
   version = "1.48.4";
@@ -127,13 +128,13 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     done
   '';
 
-  postFixup = lib.optionalString withAppliance ''
+  postFixup = lib.optionalString (appliance != null) ''
     mkdir -p $out/{lib,lib64}
     ln -s ${appliance} $out/lib64/guestfs
     ln -s ${appliance} $out/lib/guestfs
   '';
 
-  doInstallCheck = withAppliance;
+  doInstallCheck = appliance != null;
   installCheckPhase = ''
     runHook preInstallCheck
 
@@ -160,6 +161,6 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     maintainers = with maintainers; [ offline ];
     platforms = platforms.linux;
     # this is to avoid "output size exceeded"
-    hydraPlatforms = if withAppliance then appliance.meta.hydraPlatforms else platforms.linux;
+    hydraPlatforms = if appliance != null then appliance.meta.hydraPlatforms else platforms.linux;
   };
 }