diff --git a/pkgs/misc/drivers/hplip/3.16.11.nix b/pkgs/misc/drivers/hplip/3.16.11.nix
index 4e9b4cbf0ae9..ebea49d9540a 100644
--- a/pkgs/misc/drivers/hplip/3.16.11.nix
+++ b/pkgs/misc/drivers/hplip/3.16.11.nix
@@ -142,8 +142,6 @@ pythonPackages.buildPythonApplication {
 
     mkdir -p $out/etc/sane.d/dll.d
     mv $out/etc/sane.d/dll.conf $out/etc/sane.d/dll.d/hpaio.conf
-
-    rm $out/etc/udev/rules.d/56-hpmud.rules
   '';
 
   # The installed executables are just symlinks into $out/share/hplip,
@@ -171,9 +169,9 @@ pythonPackages.buildPythonApplication {
 
   postFixup = ''
     substituteInPlace $out/etc/hp/hplip.conf --replace /usr $out
-  '' + stdenv.lib.optionalString (!withPlugin) ''
-    # A udev rule to notify users that they need the binary plugin.
-    # Needs a lot of patching but might save someone a bit of confusion:
+    # Patch udev rules:
+    # with plugin, they upload firmware to printers,
+    # without plugin, they complain about the missing plugin.
     substituteInPlace $out/etc/udev/rules.d/56-hpmud.rules \
       --replace {,${bash}}/bin/sh \
       --replace /usr/bin/nohup "" \
diff --git a/pkgs/misc/drivers/hplip/3.18.5.nix b/pkgs/misc/drivers/hplip/3.18.5.nix
index 7da6b2db930b..68220392fd00 100644
--- a/pkgs/misc/drivers/hplip/3.18.5.nix
+++ b/pkgs/misc/drivers/hplip/3.18.5.nix
@@ -174,8 +174,6 @@ pythonPackages.buildPythonApplication {
 
     mkdir -p $out/var/lib/hp
     cp ${hplipState} $out/var/lib/hp/hplip.state
-
-    rm $out/etc/udev/rules.d/56-hpmud.rules
   '';
 
   # The installed executables are just symlinks into $out/share/hplip,
@@ -203,9 +201,9 @@ pythonPackages.buildPythonApplication {
 
   postFixup = ''
     substituteInPlace $out/etc/hp/hplip.conf --replace /usr $out
-  '' + stdenv.lib.optionalString (!withPlugin) ''
-    # A udev rule to notify users that they need the binary plugin.
-    # Needs a lot of patching but might save someone a bit of confusion:
+    # Patch udev rules:
+    # with plugin, they upload firmware to printers,
+    # without plugin, they complain about the missing plugin.
     substituteInPlace $out/etc/udev/rules.d/56-hpmud.rules \
       --replace {,${bash}}/bin/sh \
       --replace /usr/bin/nohup "" \
diff --git a/pkgs/misc/drivers/hplip/default.nix b/pkgs/misc/drivers/hplip/default.nix
index 6c02fa52124e..851aa9f3f882 100644
--- a/pkgs/misc/drivers/hplip/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/misc/drivers/hplip/default.nix
@@ -181,8 +181,6 @@ pythonPackages.buildPythonApplication {
 
     mkdir -p $out/var/lib/hp
     cp ${hplipState} $out/var/lib/hp/hplip.state
-
-    rm $out/etc/udev/rules.d/56-hpmud.rules
   '';
 
   # The installed executables are just symlinks into $out/share/hplip,
@@ -210,9 +208,9 @@ pythonPackages.buildPythonApplication {
 
   postFixup = ''
     substituteInPlace $out/etc/hp/hplip.conf --replace /usr $out
-  '' + stdenv.lib.optionalString (!withPlugin) ''
-    # A udev rule to notify users that they need the binary plugin.
-    # Needs a lot of patching but might save someone a bit of confusion:
+    # Patch udev rules:
+    # with plugin, they upload firmware to printers,
+    # without plugin, they complain about the missing plugin.
     substituteInPlace $out/etc/udev/rules.d/56-hpmud.rules \
       --replace {,${bash}}/bin/sh \
       --replace /usr/bin/nohup "" \