diff --git a/git-annex.cabal b/git-annex.cabal
index 40f928dbf3..69a1d5b769 100644
--- a/git-annex.cabal
+++ b/git-annex.cabal
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ Executable git-annex-shell
 
 Executable git-union-merge
   Main-Is: git-union-merge.hs
+  Build-Depends: text
 
 source-repository head
   type: git