diff --git a/pkgs/development/haskell-modules/generic-builder.nix b/pkgs/development/haskell-modules/generic-builder.nix
index 5cebe4aec5d0d..6e3994c54a244 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/haskell-modules/generic-builder.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/haskell-modules/generic-builder.nix
@@ -302,8 +302,6 @@ let
 
   makeGhcOptions = opts: lib.concatStringsSep " " (map (opt: "--ghc-option=${opt}") opts);
 
-  buildFlagsString = optionalString (buildFlags != [ ]) (" " + concatStringsSep " " buildFlags);
-
   defaultConfigureFlags = [
     "--verbose"
     "--prefix=$out"
@@ -735,7 +733,7 @@ lib.fix (
 
       # Cabal takes flags like `--configure-option=--host=...` instead
       configurePlatforms = [ ];
-      inherit configureFlags;
+      inherit configureFlags buildFlags;
 
       # Note: the options here must be always added, regardless of whether the
       # package specifies `hardeningDisable`.
@@ -769,7 +767,7 @@ lib.fix (
         find dist/build -exec touch -d '1970-01-01T00:00:00Z' {} +
       ''
       + ''
-        ${setupCommand} build ${buildTarget}${buildFlagsString}
+        ${setupCommand} build ${buildTarget} $buildFlags
         runHook postBuild
       '';