diff --git a/mk/config.mk.in b/mk/config.mk.in
index b0295b2e6f4bb734df69145b4f1f6f9445b6fc47..ca8a553aa287bae0ddd0fb89acd6c5c7bea08058 100644
--- a/mk/config.mk.in
+++ b/mk/config.mk.in
@@ -110,7 +110,12 @@ exeext=@exeext@
 #		* ghc next
 #		then it's up to you
 
+ifeq "$(GhcWithHscBuiltViaC)" "YES"
+# need hslibs/lang first if we're bootstrapping
+ProjectsToBuild   = glafp-utils hslibs ghc
+else
 ProjectsToBuild   = glafp-utils ghc hslibs
+endif
 #
 # Make a distinction between building and installing
 #