Test the %{pkg:installed}% form inside file substitution: $ . ./helpers.sh $ make_lockdir $ mkdir source $ cat >source/foo.in < foo: %{somepkg:installed}% > EOF $ cat >dune.lock/test.pkg < (version 0.0.1) > (source (copy $PWD/source)) > (build > (progn > (system "echo somepkg installation %{pkg:somepkg:installed}") > (substitute foo.in foo) > (system "cat foo"))) > EOF $ build_pkg test somepkg installation false foo: false