diff --git a/Cabal/src/Distribution/Simple/GHC.hs b/Cabal/src/Distribution/Simple/GHC.hs
index e71c20d47bc..c96e520bb47 100644
--- a/Cabal/src/Distribution/Simple/GHC.hs
+++ b/Cabal/src/Distribution/Simple/GHC.hs
@@ -720,12 +720,20 @@ libAbiHash verbosity _pkg_descr lbi lib clbi = do
     comp = compiler lbi
     platform = hostPlatform lbi
     mbWorkDir = mbWorkDirLBI lbi
-    vanillaArgs =
+    vanillaArgs0 =
       (Internal.componentGhcOptions verbosity lbi libBi clbi (componentBuildDir lbi clbi))
         `mappend` mempty
           { ghcOptMode = toFlag GhcModeAbiHash
           , ghcOptInputModules = toNubListR $ exposedModules lib
           }
+    vanillaArgs =
+      -- Package DBs unnecessary, and break ghc-cabal. See #3633
+      -- BUT, put at least the global database so that 7.4 doesn't
+      -- break.
+      vanillaArgs0
+        { ghcOptPackageDBs = [GlobalPackageDB]
+        , ghcOptPackages = mempty
+        }
     sharedArgs =
       vanillaArgs
         `mappend` mempty
diff --git a/Cabal/src/Distribution/Simple/GHCJS.hs b/Cabal/src/Distribution/Simple/GHCJS.hs
index 973230ee3c7..e1aec70a096 100644
--- a/Cabal/src/Distribution/Simple/GHCJS.hs
+++ b/Cabal/src/Distribution/Simple/GHCJS.hs
@@ -1768,12 +1768,20 @@ libAbiHash verbosity _pkg_descr lbi lib clbi = do
     comp = compiler lbi
     platform = hostPlatform lbi
     mbWorkDir = mbWorkDirLBI lbi
-    vanillaArgs =
+    vanillaArgs0 =
       (componentGhcOptions verbosity lbi libBi clbi (componentBuildDir lbi clbi))
         `mappend` mempty
           { ghcOptMode = toFlag GhcModeAbiHash
           , ghcOptInputModules = toNubListR $ exposedModules lib
           }
+    vanillaArgs =
+      -- Package DBs unnecessary, and break ghc-cabal. See #3633
+      -- BUT, put at least the global database so that 7.4 doesn't
+      -- break.
+      vanillaArgs0
+        { ghcOptPackageDBs = [GlobalPackageDB]
+        , ghcOptPackages = mempty
+        }
     sharedArgs =
       vanillaArgs
         `mappend` mempty