diff --git a/cabal-install/src/Distribution/Client/Dependency.hs b/cabal-install/src/Distribution/Client/Dependency.hs
index 37e0cbdf1ee..6629e362ec4 100644
--- a/cabal-install/src/Distribution/Client/Dependency.hs
+++ b/cabal-install/src/Distribution/Client/Dependency.hs
@@ -463,6 +463,7 @@ nonReinstallablePackages :: [PackageName]
 nonReinstallablePackages =
   [ mkPackageName "base"
   , mkPackageName "ghc-bignum"
+  , mkPackageName "ghc-internal"
   , mkPackageName "ghc-prim"
   , mkPackageName "ghc"
   , mkPackageName "integer-gmp"