diff --git a/pkgs/applications/editors/emacs-modes/melpa-packages.nix b/pkgs/applications/editors/emacs-modes/melpa-packages.nix
index 43d48d0d298..2d66423eb2d 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/editors/emacs-modes/melpa-packages.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/editors/emacs-modes/melpa-packages.nix
@@ -62,5 +62,10 @@ self:
         meta = (args.meta or {}) // { broken = true; };
       });
     };
+
+    melpaPackages = super // {
+      # broken upstream
+      ack-menu = markBroken super.ack-menu;
+    };
   in
-    super // { melpaPackages = super; }
+    melpaPackages // { inherit melpaPackages; }
diff --git a/pkgs/applications/editors/emacs-modes/melpa-stable-packages.nix b/pkgs/applications/editors/emacs-modes/melpa-stable-packages.nix
index aa940016b5e..a65f1b0dc28 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/editors/emacs-modes/melpa-stable-packages.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/editors/emacs-modes/melpa-stable-packages.nix
@@ -64,5 +64,10 @@ self:
         meta = (args.meta or {}) // { broken = true; };
       });
     };
+
+    melpaStablePackages = super // {
+      # broken upstream
+      ack-menu = markBroken super.ack-menu;
+    };
   in
-    super // { melpaStablePackages = super; }
+    melpaStablePackages // { inherit melpaStablePackages; }