diff --git a/package/base-files/files/lib/functions.sh b/package/base-files/files/lib/functions.sh
index a009aa81e99..0fc8c07d1ae 100644
--- a/package/base-files/files/lib/functions.sh
+++ b/package/base-files/files/lib/functions.sh
@@ -533,4 +533,4 @@ cmdline_get_var() {
 	done
 }
 
-[ -z "$IPKG_INSTROOT" ] && [ -f /lib/config/uci.sh ] && . /lib/config/uci.sh
+[ -z "$IPKG_INSTROOT" ] && ( [ -f /lib/config/uci.sh ] && . /lib/config/uci.sh ) || true