diff --git a/pkgs/development/haskell-modules/configuration-ghc-7.10.x.nix b/pkgs/development/haskell-modules/configuration-ghc-7.10.x.nix
index 1d3bc01977e..18ed30da237 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/haskell-modules/configuration-ghc-7.10.x.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/haskell-modules/configuration-ghc-7.10.x.nix
@@ -184,6 +184,9 @@ self: super: {
   # lens-family-th >= 0.5.0.0 is GHC 8.0 only
   lens-family-th = self.lens-family-th_0_4_1_0;
 
+  # cereal must have `fail` in pre-ghc-8.0.x versions
+  cereal = addBuildDepend super.cereal self.fail;
+
   # The tests in vty-ui do not build, but vty-ui itself builds.
   vty-ui = enableCabalFlag super.vty-ui "no-tests";