diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index 68737eda12..9cbe2d692d 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -6,8 +6,6 @@ git-annex (4.20130710) UNRELEASED; urgency=low
   * Rsync.net have committed to support git-annex and offer a special
     discounted rate for git-annex users. Updated the webapp to reflect this.
     http://www.rsync.net/products/git-annex-pricing.html
-  * Improve cabal file to avoid unncessary dependencies when building with
-    the assistant disabled.
 
  -- Joey Hess <joeyh@debian.org>  Tue, 09 Jul 2013 19:17:13 -0400
 
diff --git a/doc/install/cabal.mdwn b/doc/install/cabal.mdwn
index 0f381472dd..383978d36f 100644
--- a/doc/install/cabal.mdwn
+++ b/doc/install/cabal.mdwn
@@ -1,22 +1,25 @@
 As a haskell package, git-annex can be installed using cabal.
 
-Start by installing the [Haskell Platform](http://hackage.haskell.org/platform/),
-and then:
+Start by installing the [Haskell Platform](http://hackage.haskell.org/platform/).
+
+## minimal build
+
+This builds git-annex without some features that require C libraries, that
+can be harder to get installed. This is plenty to get started using it,
+although it does not include the assistant or webapp.
 
 	cabal update
 	PATH=$HOME/bin:$PATH
-	cabal install git-annex -f-assistant --bindir=$HOME/bin
+	cabal install git-annex --bindir=$HOME/bin -f"-assistant -webapp -webdav -pairing -xmpp -dns"
 
-The above downloads the latest release and installs it into a ~/bin/
-directory, which you can put in your PATH.
+## full build
 
-## building in the assistant and webapp
-
-The above builds git-annex without the git-annex assistant and webapp. To
-build with those features enabled, you will need to install several C
-libraries and their headers, including libgnutls, libgsasl, libxml2, and
-zlib. Then run:
+To build with all features enabled, including the assistant and webapp,
+you will need to install several C libraries and their headers,
+including libgnutls, libgsasl, libxml2, and zlib. Then run:
 
+	cabal update
+	PATH=$HOME/bin:$PATH
 	cabal install c2hs --bindir=$HOME/bin
 	cabal install git-annex --bindir=$HOME/bin
 
diff --git a/git-annex.cabal b/git-annex.cabal
index 831aada967..47b301b2d1 100644
--- a/git-annex.cabal
+++ b/git-annex.cabal
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ Executable git-annex
     Build-Depends: hS3
     CPP-Options: -DWITH_S3
 
-  if flag(WebDAV) && flag(Assistant)
+  if flag(WebDAV)
     Build-Depends: DAV (>= 0.3), http-conduit, xml-conduit, http-types
     CPP-Options: -DWITH_WEBDAV
 
@@ -117,8 +117,8 @@ Executable git-annex
 
   if flag(Assistant)
     if os(linux) && flag(Inotify)
-        Build-Depends: hinotify
-        CPP-Options: -DWITH_INOTIFY
+      Build-Depends: hinotify
+      CPP-Options: -DWITH_INOTIFY
     else
       if os(darwin)
         Build-Depends: hfsevents
@@ -128,11 +128,11 @@ Executable git-annex
           CPP-Options: -DWITH_KQUEUE
           C-Sources: Utility/libkqueue.c
 
-  if os(linux) && flag(Dbus) && flag(Assistant)
+  if os(linux) && flag(Dbus)
     Build-Depends: dbus (>= 0.10.3)
     CPP-Options: -DWITH_DBUS
 
-  if flag(Webapp) && flag(Assistant)
+  if flag(Webapp)
     Build-Depends:
      yesod, yesod-default, yesod-static, yesod-form, yesod-core,
      case-insensitive, http-types, transformers, wai, wai-logger, warp,
@@ -141,15 +141,15 @@ Executable git-annex
     CPP-Options: -DWITH_WEBAPP
     GHC-Options: -threaded
 
-  if flag(Pairing) && flag(WebApp)
+  if flag(Pairing)
     Build-Depends: network-multicast, network-info
     CPP-Options: -DWITH_PAIRING
 
-  if flag(XMPP) && flag(Assistant)
+  if flag(XMPP)
     Build-Depends: network-protocol-xmpp, gnutls (>= 0.1.4), xml-types
     CPP-Options: -DWITH_XMPP
 
-  if flag(DNS) && flag(WebApp)
+  if flag(DNS)
     Build-Depends: dns
     CPP-Options: -DWITH_DNS