diff --git a/pkgs/build-support/go/module.nix b/pkgs/build-support/go/module.nix
index 214b2603ff7f3..7a701060ebc91 100644
--- a/pkgs/build-support/go/module.nix
+++ b/pkgs/build-support/go/module.nix
@@ -176,7 +176,8 @@ in
     # Handle empty vendorHash; avoid
     # error: empty hash requires explicit hash algorithm
     outputHashAlgo = if finalAttrs.vendorHash == "" then "sha256" else null;
-  }).overrideAttrs finalAttrs.passthru.overrideModAttrs;
+    # in case an overlay clears passthru by accident, don't fail evaluation
+  }).overrideAttrs (finalAttrs.passthru.overrideModAttrs or overrideModAttrs);
 
     nativeBuildInputs = [ go ] ++ nativeBuildInputs;