diff --git a/xbps-src/shutils/build_funcs.sh b/xbps-src/shutils/build_funcs.sh
index 5dc75c2114c..9ee867129fe 100644
--- a/xbps-src/shutils/build_funcs.sh
+++ b/xbps-src/shutils/build_funcs.sh
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ build_src_phase()
 	[ -z $pkgname -o -z $version ] && return 1
 
 	# Skip this phase for meta-template style builds.
-	[ "$build_style" = "meta-template" ] && return 0
+	[ -m "$build_style" -a "$build_style" = "meta-template" ] && return 0
 
 	[ ! -d $wrksrc ] && msg_error "unexistent build directory [$wrksrc]\n"
 
diff --git a/xbps-src/shutils/configure_funcs.sh b/xbps-src/shutils/configure_funcs.sh
index 5a63bea1dd6..674d3df43d9 100644
--- a/xbps-src/shutils/configure_funcs.sh
+++ b/xbps-src/shutils/configure_funcs.sh
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ configure_src_phase()
 	[ -z $pkgname ] && return 1
 
 	# Skip this phase for meta-template style builds.
-	[ "$build_style" = "meta-template" ] && return 0
+	[ -n "$build_style" -a "$build_style" = "meta-template" ] && return 0
 
 	cd $wrksrc || msg_error "unexistent build directory [$wrksrc].\n"
 
diff --git a/xbps-src/shutils/fetch_funcs.sh b/xbps-src/shutils/fetch_funcs.sh
index 7f446b811d3..d9daac38dba 100644
--- a/xbps-src/shutils/fetch_funcs.sh
+++ b/xbps-src/shutils/fetch_funcs.sh
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ fetch_distfiles()
 	#
 	# There's nothing of interest if we are a meta template.
 	#
-	[ "$build_style" = "meta-template" ] && return 0
+	[ -n "$build_style" -a "$build_style" = "meta-template" ] && return 0
 
 	[ -f "$XBPS_FETCH_DONE" ] && return 0
 
diff --git a/xbps-src/shutils/metadata.sh b/xbps-src/shutils/metadata.sh
index 32d114c1d49..fdc8ffc588c 100644
--- a/xbps-src/shutils/metadata.sh
+++ b/xbps-src/shutils/metadata.sh
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ xbps_write_metadata_pkg()
 		xbps_write_metadata_pkg_real
 	done
 
-	if [ "$build_style" = "meta-template" -a -z "${run_depends}" ]; then
+	if [ -n "$build_style" -a "$build_style" = "meta-template" -a -z "${run_depends}" ]; then
 		for spkg in ${subpackages}; do
 			if [ -n "${revision}" ]; then
 				spkgrev="${spkg}-${version}_$revision"
diff --git a/xbps-src/shutils/stow_funcs.sh b/xbps-src/shutils/stow_funcs.sh
index f03fb1387c5..384fb567dff 100644
--- a/xbps-src/shutils/stow_funcs.sh
+++ b/xbps-src/shutils/stow_funcs.sh
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ stow_pkg_real()
 		msg_error "cannot stow $pkgname! (permission denied)\n"
 	fi
 
-	if [ "$build_style" = "meta-template" ]; then
+	if [ -n "$build_style" -a "$build_style" = "meta-template" ]; then
 		[ ! -d ${DESTDIR} ] && mkdir -p ${DESTDIR}
 	fi
 
diff --git a/xbps-src/shutils/tmpl_funcs.sh.in b/xbps-src/shutils/tmpl_funcs.sh.in
index 2af2a3aac45..647101ca21a 100644
--- a/xbps-src/shutils/tmpl_funcs.sh.in
+++ b/xbps-src/shutils/tmpl_funcs.sh.in
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ prepare_tmpl()
 
 	REQ_VARS="pkgname version short_desc long_desc"
 
-	if [ "$build_style" = "meta-template" ]; then
+	if [ -n "$build_style" -a "$build_style" = "meta-template" ]; then
 		nofetch=yes
 		noextract=yes
 	fi