diff --git a/pkgs/development/haskell-modules/configuration-ghc-7.9.x.nix b/pkgs/development/haskell-modules/configuration-ghc-7.9.x.nix
index f19e6624504..3c3f966e69c 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/haskell-modules/configuration-ghc-7.9.x.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/haskell-modules/configuration-ghc-7.9.x.nix
@@ -51,5 +51,8 @@ self: super: {
   hspec-expectations = overrideCabal super.hspec-expectations (drv: {
     patchPhase = "sed -i -e 's|base < 4.8|base|' hspec-expectations.cabal";
   });
+  utf8-string = overrideCabal super.utf8-string (drv: {
+    patchPhase = "sed -i -e 's|base >= 3 && < 4.8|base|' utf8-string.cabal";
+  });
 
 }