diff --git a/packages/flutter_tools/bin/xcode_backend.sh b/packages/flutter_tools/bin/xcode_backend.sh
index 630a7dc0ae5..22e96d1d805 100755
--- a/packages/flutter_tools/bin/xcode_backend.sh
+++ b/packages/flutter_tools/bin/xcode_backend.sh
@@ -163,13 +163,15 @@ LipoExecutable() {
     fi
   done
 
-  # Merge desired architectures.
-  local merged="${executable}_merged"
-  lipo -output "${merged}" -create "${all_executables[@]}"
+  # Generate a merged binary from the architecture-specific executables.
+  # Skip this step for non-fat executables.
+  if [[ ${#all_executables[@]} > 0 ]]; then
+    local merged="${executable}_merged"
+    lipo -output "${merged}" -create "${all_executables[@]}"
 
-  # Replace the original executable with the thinned one and clean up.
-  cp -f -- "${merged}" "${executable}" > /dev/null
-  rm -f -- "${merged}" "${all_executables[@]}"
+    cp -f -- "${merged}" "${executable}" > /dev/null
+    rm -f -- "${merged}" "${all_executables[@]}"
+  fi
 }
 
 # Destructively thins the specified framework to include only the specified