diff --git a/git-annex.cabal b/git-annex.cabal
index 047ea82b97..bd9d0dc1b2 100644
--- a/git-annex.cabal
+++ b/git-annex.cabal
@@ -363,7 +363,7 @@ Executable git-annex
    -- Old version needed due to
    -- https://github.com/prowdsponsor/esqueleto/issues/137
    -- and also temporarily to make ghc 8 builds work
-   persistent (== 2.2.4.1),
+   persistent (< 2.5),
    persistent-template,
    aeson,
    unordered-containers,