diff --git a/pkgs/build-support/release/debian-build.nix b/pkgs/build-support/release/debian-build.nix
index 3fe4dac25b7d..fad216fb1c24 100644
--- a/pkgs/build-support/release/debian-build.nix
+++ b/pkgs/build-support/release/debian-build.nix
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ vmTools.runInLinuxImage (stdenv.mkDerivation (
       done
     ''; # */
 
-    meta = {
+    meta = (if args ? meta then args.meta else {}) // {
       description = "Build of a Deb package on ${args.diskImage.fullName} (${args.diskImage.name})";
     };
   }
diff --git a/pkgs/build-support/release/make-source-tarball.nix b/pkgs/build-support/release/make-source-tarball.nix
index f3a9f1688934..e92ad2dea105 100644
--- a/pkgs/build-support/release/make-source-tarball.nix
+++ b/pkgs/build-support/release/make-source-tarball.nix
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation (
 
     passthru = {inherit src;};
 
-    meta = {
+    meta = (if args ? meta then args.meta else {}) // {
       description = "Build of a source distribution from a checkout";
     };
   
diff --git a/pkgs/build-support/release/nix-build.nix b/pkgs/build-support/release/nix-build.nix
index 1c210fc7e677..5257c2c74249 100644
--- a/pkgs/build-support/release/nix-build.nix
+++ b/pkgs/build-support/release/nix-build.nix
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation (
     '' else "";
 
 
-    meta = {
+    meta = (if args ? meta then args.meta else {}) // {
       description = if doCoverageAnalysis then "Coverage analysis" else "Native Nix build on ${stdenv.system}";
     };
 
diff --git a/pkgs/build-support/release/rpm-build.nix b/pkgs/build-support/release/rpm-build.nix
index b9e0d7c508c5..88273b5958cc 100644
--- a/pkgs/build-support/release/rpm-build.nix
+++ b/pkgs/build-support/release/rpm-build.nix
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ vmTools.buildRPM (
       done
     ''; # */
 
-    meta = {
+    meta = (if args ? meta then args.meta else {}) // {
       description = "Build of an RPM package on ${args.diskImage.fullName} (${args.diskImage.name})";
     };
   }