diff --git a/Cabal/Distribution/Simple/GHC.hs b/Cabal/Distribution/Simple/GHC.hs
index 47872918f43..3e7cd634197 100644
--- a/Cabal/Distribution/Simple/GHC.hs
+++ b/Cabal/Distribution/Simple/GHC.hs
@@ -1048,12 +1048,18 @@ libAbiHash verbosity _pkg_descr lbi lib clbi = do
   let
       comp        = compiler lbi
       platform    = hostPlatform lbi
-      vanillaArgs =
+      vanillaArgs0 =
         (componentGhcOptions verbosity lbi libBi clbi (componentBuildDir lbi clbi))
         `mappend` mempty {
           ghcOptMode         = toFlag GhcModeAbiHash,
           ghcOptInputModules = toNubListR $ exposedModules lib
         }
+      vanillaArgs =
+          -- Package DBs unnecessary, and break ghc-cabal. See #3633
+          -- BUT, put at least the global database so that 7.4 doesn't
+          -- break.
+          vanillaArgs0 { ghcOptPackageDBs = [GlobalPackageDB]
+                       , ghcOptPackages = mempty }
       sharedArgs = vanillaArgs `mappend` mempty {
                        ghcOptDynLinkMode = toFlag GhcDynamicOnly,
                        ghcOptFPic        = toFlag True,