diff --git a/Backend.hs b/Backend.hs
index b7c52ddec4..59df37fc4d 100644
--- a/Backend.hs
+++ b/Backend.hs
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ import qualified Annex
 import Utility
 import Types
 import qualified TypeInternals as Internals
+import Portability
 
 {- List of backends in the order to try them when storing a new key. -}
 list :: Annex [Backend]
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 921eb70670..3ffa29e3b3 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ all: git-annex docs
 
 git-annex:
 	mkdir -p build
-	ghc -odir build -hidir build --make git-annex
+	ghc -cpp -odir build -hidir build --make git-annex
 
 install:
 	install -d $(DESTDIR)/usr/bin
diff --git a/Portability.hs b/Portability.hs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9cb386a9be
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Portability.hs
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+{- git-annex - Nasty portability workarounds. -}
+module Portability where
+
+-- old ghc does not know about SomeException. 
+-- http://haskell.1045720.n5.nabble.com/Help-using-catch-in-6-10-td3127921.html#a3127921
+-- This needs ghc -cpp
+#if __GLASGOW_HASKELL__ < 610
+type SomeException = Exception 
+#endif 
diff --git a/Remotes.hs b/Remotes.hs
index 66395adcda..32016b7758 100644
--- a/Remotes.hs
+++ b/Remotes.hs
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ import Locations
 import UUID
 import Utility
 import qualified Core
+import Portability
 
 {- Human visible list of remotes. -}
 list :: [Git.Repo] -> String
diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index 4759f7e515..d6cc73e49e 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ git-annex (0.03) UNRELEASED; urgency=low
   * Add --verbose
   * Fix SIGINT handling.
   * Fix handling of files with unusual characters in their name.
+  * Support building with Debian stable's ghc.
 
  -- Joey Hess <joeyh@debian.org>  Thu, 28 Oct 2010 13:46:59 -0400
 
diff --git a/doc/bugs/building_on_lenny.mdwn b/doc/bugs/building_on_lenny.mdwn
index c0e45912ab..cf5a20a7cf 100644
--- a/doc/bugs/building_on_lenny.mdwn
+++ b/doc/bugs/building_on_lenny.mdwn
@@ -38,3 +38,6 @@ Thanks for your help!
 > Newer versions of ghc changed their exception handling types, and
 > I coded git-annex to use the new style and not the old. gch6 6.12 will
 > work. I do not think there is a backport available though. --[[Joey]]
+>
+> Ok, found and deployed a workaround. It is not tested. Let me know how it
+> works for you. --[[Joey]]