diff --git a/conda/core/link.py b/conda/core/link.py
index e00e10eeb62..360f8b7b849 100644
--- a/conda/core/link.py
+++ b/conda/core/link.py
@@ -944,7 +944,8 @@ def diff_strs(unlink_prec, link_prec):
             if channel_change or subdir_change:
                 if unlink_prec.channel.name is not None:
                     builder_left.append(unlink_prec.channel.name)
-                builder_right.append(link_prec.channel.name)
+                if link_prec.channel.name is not None:
+                    builder_right.append(link_prec.channel.name)
             if subdir_change:
                 builder_left.append("/" + unlink_prec.subdir)
                 builder_right.append("/" + link_prec.subdir)