diff --git a/pkgs/applications/editors/emacs-modes/melpa-stable-packages.nix b/pkgs/applications/editors/emacs-modes/melpa-stable-packages.nix
index 486d392307a5..a2ba794933ea 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/editors/emacs-modes/melpa-stable-packages.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/editors/emacs-modes/melpa-stable-packages.nix
@@ -118,6 +118,9 @@ self:
       # upstream issue: missing file header
       initsplit = markBroken super.initsplit;
 
+      # upstream issue: recipe fails
+      insert-shebang = markBroken super.insert-shebang;
+
       # Expects bash to be at /bin/bash
       ivy-rtags = markBroken super.ivy-rtags;