diff --git a/pkgs/development/haskell-modules/generic-stack-builder.nix b/pkgs/development/haskell-modules/generic-stack-builder.nix
index c7cfbef7d132..13a939fcce9a 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/haskell-modules/generic-stack-builder.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/haskell-modules/generic-stack-builder.nix
@@ -29,7 +29,10 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation (args // {
 
   preferLocalBuild = true;
 
-  configurePhase = args.configurePhase or "stack setup";
+  configurePhase = args.configurePhase or ''
+    export STACK_ROOT=$NIX_BUILD_TOP/.stack
+    stack setup
+  '';
 
   buildPhase = args.buildPhase or "stack build";