diff --git a/Setup.hs b/Setup.hs
--- a/Setup.hs
+++ b/Setup.hs
@@ -35,8 +35,7 @@
 configure args flags pd lbi = do
     (ccProg, ccFlags) <- configureCCompiler v programConfig
     env <- getEnvironment
-    let env' = appendToEnvironment ("CFLAGS", unwords ccFlags) $
-               appendToEnvironment ("CC", ccProg) env
+    let env' = ("CC", ccProg) : appendToEnvironment ("CFLAGS", unwords ccFlags) env
     maybeExit $ runInRepo v "sh" args (Just env')
   where
     args = "./configure" : "--disable-jni" : "--enable-module-recovery" : configureArgs False flags
diff --git a/secp256k1-legacy.cabal b/secp256k1-legacy.cabal
--- a/secp256k1-legacy.cabal
+++ b/secp256k1-legacy.cabal
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 name:                secp256k1-legacy
-version:             0.5.4
+version:             0.5.5
 synopsis:            fork of secp256k1
 description:         Keep the 0.5.x branch of secp256k1 on life support for those of us who can't upgrade to secp256k1-haskell.
 homepage:            https://github.com/symbiont-sam-halliday/secp256k1-haskell
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@
     hs-source-dirs:      src
     exposed-modules:     Crypto.Secp256k1
                        , Crypto.Secp256k1.Internal
-    build-depends:       base >= 4.8 && < 5
+    build-depends:       base >= 4.9.1.0 && < 5
                        , base16-bytestring ^>= 0.1.1.6
                        , bytestring
                        , cereal ^>= 0.5.8.1