diff --git a/hackage-db.cabal b/hackage-db.cabal
--- a/hackage-db.cabal
+++ b/hackage-db.cabal
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 Name:                   hackage-db
-Version:                1.9
+Version:                1.9.1
 Copyright:              Peter Simons
 License:                BSD3
 License-File:           LICENSE
@@ -53,4 +53,5 @@
   hs-source-dirs:       src
   Exposed-Modules:      Distribution.Hackage.DB.Unparsed
                         Distribution.Hackage.DB.Parsed
+                        Distribution.Hackage.DB.Path
                         Distribution.Hackage.DB
diff --git a/src/Distribution/Hackage/DB/Path.hs b/src/Distribution/Hackage/DB/Path.hs
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Distribution/Hackage/DB/Path.hs
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+{- |
+   Module      :  Distribution.Hackage.DB.Path
+   License     :  BSD3
+   Maintainer  :  simons@cryp.to
+   Stability   :  provisional
+   Portability :  portable
+
+   Find the location of the local Hackage database that is maintained by running
+   @cabal update@.
+ -}
+
+module Distribution.Hackage.DB.Path ( hackagePath ) where
+
+import System.Directory ( getHomeDirectory )
+import System.FilePath ( joinPath )
+
+-- | Determine the default path of the Hackage database, which typically
+-- resides at @"$HOME\/.cabal\/packages\/hackage.haskell.org\/00-index.tar"@.
+-- Running the command @"cabal update"@ will keep that file up-to-date.
+
+hackagePath :: IO FilePath
+hackagePath = do
+  homedir <- getHomeDirectory
+  return $ joinPath [homedir, ".cabal", "packages", "hackage.haskell.org", "00-index.tar"]