diff --git a/gnu/packages/music.scm b/gnu/packages/music.scm
index ffee9d6245..672f55d2da 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/music.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/music.scm
@@ -312,7 +312,10 @@ (define-public lilypond
          (add-before 'configure 'prepare-configuration
           (lambda _
             (substitute* "configure"
-              (("SHELL=/bin/sh") "SHELL=sh"))
+              (("SHELL=/bin/sh") "SHELL=sh")
+              ;; When checking the fontforge version do not consider the
+              ;; version string that's part of the directory.
+              (("head -n") "tail -n"))
             (setenv "out" "www")
             (setenv "conf" "www")
             #t))