diff --git a/nix-js/runtime-ts/src/builtins/attrs.ts b/nix-js/runtime-ts/src/builtins/attrs.ts
index def31dc..e0be552 100644
--- a/nix-js/runtime-ts/src/builtins/attrs.ts
+++ b/nix-js/runtime-ts/src/builtins/attrs.ts
@@ -49,9 +49,10 @@ export const removeAttrs =
     const new_attrs: NixAttrs = {};
     const forced_attrs = forceAttrs(attrs);
     const forced_list = forceList(list);
+    const keys_to_remove = new Set(forced_list.map(forceStringValue));
 
     for (const key in forced_attrs) {
-      if (!(key in forced_list)) {
+      if (!keys_to_remove.has(key)) {
         new_attrs[key] = forced_attrs[key];
       }
     }