diff --git a/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix b/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix
index e2cf2f63b72..47a78aff2cc 100644
--- a/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix
+++ b/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix
@@ -2466,11 +2466,13 @@ rec {
     inherit fetchurl stdenv mysql libtool zlib unixODBC;
   };
 
-  ncurses = lib.sumArgs (selectVersion ../development/libraries/ncurses "5.6") {
+  ncursesFun = lib.sumArgs (selectVersion ../development/libraries/ncurses "5.6") {
     inherit fetchurl stdenv;
     unicode = (system != "i686-cygwin");
   };
 
+  ncurses = ncursesFun null;
+
   ncursesDiet = import ../development/libraries/ncurses-diet {
     inherit fetchurl;
     stdenv = useDietLibC stdenv;