diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index a46b1e8c..95974671 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -481,7 +481,7 @@ tmp="${{exe#*/}}"
 if [ ! "${{#tmp}}" -lt "${{#exe}}" ]; then
     exe="{default_exe.parent}/$exe"
 fi
-export LD_LIBRARY_PATH="$LD_LIBRARY_PATH:$APPDIR/{default_exe.parent}/lib"
+export LD_LIBRARY_PATH="${{LD_LIBRARY_PATH:+$LD_LIBRARY_PATH:}}$APPDIR/{default_exe.parent}/lib"
 $APPDIR/$exe "$@"
 """)
         launcher_filename.chmod(0o755)