diff --git a/build_system/prepare.rs b/build_system/prepare.rs
index 16e7a4bafae..c68968b4fde 100644
--- a/build_system/prepare.rs
+++ b/build_system/prepare.rs
@@ -143,6 +143,7 @@ pub(crate) fn fetch(&self, dirs: &Dirs) {
             RelPath::PATCHES.to_path(dirs).join(format!("{}-lock.toml", self.patch_name));
         let target_lockfile = download_dir.join("Cargo.lock");
         if source_lockfile.exists() {
+            assert!(!target_lockfile.exists());
             fs::copy(source_lockfile, target_lockfile).unwrap();
         } else {
             assert!(target_lockfile.exists());