diff --git a/lfs/usb-stick b/lfs/usb-stick
index 3f863b11a..6a62e2719 100644
--- a/lfs/usb-stick
+++ b/lfs/usb-stick
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ IMGfs  := /install/images/fs
 define COPY_TO_IMG
 	mkdosfs -n IPFIRE -F 16 -I $$IMAGE && \
 	for i in /0 `seq 0 7`; do \
+		[ -e /dev/loop$${i} ] || continue; \
 		if (! losetup /dev/loop$${i} >/dev/null 2>&1 ); then \
 			LOOPDEV="/dev/loop$${i}"; \
 			break; \