-# stage 2 is enabled unless $(stage) is set to something other than 2
-ifeq "$(filter-out 2,$(stage))" ""
-$(eval $(call build-prog,ghc,stage2,1))
+# if stage is set to something other than "1" or "", disable stage 1
+ifneq "$(filter-out 1,$(stage))" ""
+ghc_stage1_NOT_NEEDED = YES
+endif
+# if stage is set to something other than "2" or "", disable stage 2
+ifneq "$(filter-out 2,$(stage))" ""
+ghc_stage2_NOT_NEEDED = YES