diff --git a/hledger.cabal b/hledger.cabal
index 6b7b24ad7..3fe420993 100644
--- a/hledger.cabal
+++ b/hledger.cabal
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ library
                  ,haskell98
                  ,parsec
                  ,time
-                 ,utf8-string
+                 ,utf8-string >= 0.3 && < 0.4
                  ,HUnit
 
 executable hledger
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ executable hledger
                  ,split
                  ,testpack
                  ,time
-                 ,utf8-string
+                 ,utf8-string >= 0.3 && < 0.4
                  ,HUnit
 
   -- should set patchlevel here as in Makefile
@@ -133,7 +133,6 @@ executable hledger
                  ,happstack-data >= 0.2 && < 0.3
                  ,happstack-server >= 0.2 && < 0.3
                  ,happstack-state >= 0.2 && < 0.3
-                 ,utf8-string >= 0.3 && < 0.4
                  ,xhtml >= 3000.2 && < 3000.3
                  ,HTTP >= 4000.0 && < 4000.1