diff --git a/pkgs/development/haskell-modules/make-package-set.nix b/pkgs/development/haskell-modules/make-package-set.nix
index 2641892672a..5d178e3b5a1 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/haskell-modules/make-package-set.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/haskell-modules/make-package-set.nix
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ in package-set { inherit pkgs lib callPackage; } self // {
     # a cabal flag with '--flag=myflag'.
     developPackage =
       { root
-      , name ? builtins.baseNameOf root
+      , name ? if builtins.typeOf root == "path" then builtins.baseNameOf root else ""
       , source-overrides ? {}
       , overrides ? self: super: {}
       , modifier ? drv: drv