diff --git a/hledger/hledger.cabal b/hledger/hledger.cabal
index e57710184..e9521ac3e 100644
--- a/hledger/hledger.cabal
+++ b/hledger/hledger.cabal
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ library
     -- ghc 7.10 requires shakespeare 2.0.2.2+
     build-depends: shakespeare      >= 2.0.2.2 && < 2.1
   else
-    -- for older ghcs, allow shakespeare 2.x or 1.x (which also requires shakespeare-text)
+    -- for older ghcs, allow shakespeare 1.x (which also requires shakespeare-text)
     -- http://www.yesodweb.com/blog/2014/04/consolidation-progress
     build-depends:
                   shakespeare      >= 1.0 && < 2.1
@@ -144,13 +144,18 @@ executable hledger
                  ,process
                  ,regex-tdfa
                  ,safe >= 0.2
-                 ,shakespeare-text >= 1.0 && < 1.2
-                 ,shakespeare      >= 1.0 && < 2.1
                  ,split >= 0.1 && < 0.3
                  ,tabular >= 0.2 && < 0.3
                  ,text >= 0.11
                  ,utf8-string >= 0.3.5 && < 1.1
                  ,wizards == 1.0.*
+  -- as above
+  if impl(ghc >= 7.10)
+    build-depends: shakespeare      >= 2.0.2.2 && < 2.1
+  else
+    build-depends:
+                  shakespeare      >= 1.0 && < 2.1
+                 ,shakespeare-text >= 1.0 && < 1.2
   if flag(old-locale)
     build-depends: time < 1.5, old-locale
   else
@@ -186,8 +191,6 @@ test-suite test
                , process
                , regex-tdfa
                , safe
-               , shakespeare-text >= 1.0 && < 1.2
-               , shakespeare      >= 1.0 && < 2.1
                , split
                ,tabular >= 0.2 && < 0.3
                , test-framework
@@ -195,6 +198,13 @@ test-suite test
                , text
                , transformers
                , wizards == 1.0.*
+  -- as above
+  if impl(ghc >= 7.10)
+    build-depends: shakespeare      >= 2.0.2.2 && < 2.1
+  else
+    build-depends:
+                  shakespeare      >= 1.0 && < 2.1
+                 ,shakespeare-text >= 1.0 && < 1.2
   if impl(ghc >= 7.4)
     build-depends: pretty-show >= 1.6.4
   if flag(old-locale)