diff --git a/internal/common/expand_variables.bzl b/internal/common/expand_variables.bzl
index b3e64d7e6e..3e122fd97d 100644
--- a/internal/common/expand_variables.bzl
+++ b/internal/common/expand_variables.bzl
@@ -57,8 +57,8 @@ def expand_variables(ctx, s, outs = [], output_dir = False):
                 fail("""$@ substitution may only be used with a single out
                 Upgrading rules_nodejs? Maybe you need to switch from $@ to $(RULEDIR)
                 See https://github.com/bazelbuild/rules_nodejs/releases/tag/0.42.0""")
-        additional_substitutions["@"] = ctx.outputs.outs[0].path
         if len(ctx.outputs.outs) == 1:
+            additional_substitutions["@"] = ctx.outputs.outs[0].path
             output_dir = ctx.outputs.outs[0].dirname.split("/")
         else:
             output_dir = rule_dir[:]