diff --git a/ChangeLog.md b/ChangeLog.md
index 366bfbe1f5..e573a3db43 100644
--- a/ChangeLog.md
+++ b/ChangeLog.md
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ Other enhancements:
 
 Bug fixes:
 
+* `stack init --solver` fails if `GHC_PACKAGE_PATH` is present [#860](https://github.com/commercialhaskell/stack/issues/860)
+
 ## 0.1.3.1
 
 Bug fixes:
diff --git a/src/Stack/Solver.hs b/src/Stack/Solver.hs
index 0513245bec..3f3cbaeb98 100644
--- a/src/Stack/Solver.hs
+++ b/src/Stack/Solver.hs
@@ -75,7 +75,10 @@ cabalSolver wc cabalfps constraints cabalArgs = withSystemTempDirectory "cabal-s
 
     $logInfo "Asking cabal to calculate a build plan, please wait"
 
-    bs <- readProcessStdout (Just tmpdir) menv "cabal" args
+    platform <- asks getPlatform
+    menv' <- mkEnvOverride platform
+           $ Map.delete "GHC_PACKAGE_PATH" $ unEnvOverride menv
+    bs <- readProcessStdout (Just tmpdir) menv' "cabal" args
     let ls = drop 1
            $ dropWhile (not . T.isPrefixOf "In order, ")
            $ T.lines