diff --git a/cabal-install.sh b/cabal-install.sh
index 85004e5d2..63a4cadea 100755
--- a/cabal-install.sh
+++ b/cabal-install.sh
@@ -12,6 +12,9 @@ cabal sandbox init
 #cabal sandbox add-source ./hledger-web
 #cabal sandbox add-source ./hledger-api
 
+# Traditional pre-ceremony to propitiate the install gods
+cabal install alex happy
+
 # Build and install to ./cabal-sandbox-bin (or ~/.cabal/bin without a sandbox)
 cabal install \
   ./hledger-lib \