diff --git a/pkgs/stdenv/adapters.nix b/pkgs/stdenv/adapters.nix
index db3803661531..5760c4459ad5 100644
--- a/pkgs/stdenv/adapters.nix
+++ b/pkgs/stdenv/adapters.nix
@@ -186,4 +186,20 @@ rec {
       # `keepBuildTree' adapter as well.
       (cleanupBuildTree (keepBuildTree stdenv));
       
+
+  /* Replace the meta.maintainers field of a derivation.  This is useful
+     when you want to fork to update some packages without disturbing other
+     developers.
+
+     e.g.:  in all-packages.nix:
+
+     # remove all maintainers.
+     defaultStdenv = replaceMaintainersField allStdenvs.stdenv pkgs [];
+  */
+  replaceMaintainersField = stdenv: pkgs: maintainers: stdenv //
+    { mkDerivation = args:
+        pkgs.lib.recursiveUpdate
+          (stdenv.mkDerivation args)
+          { meta.maintainers = maintainers; };
+    };
 }
diff --git a/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix b/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix
index 272f39c9400a..04b52299f03f 100644
--- a/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix
+++ b/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix
@@ -237,7 +237,8 @@ let
   inherit (import ../stdenv/adapters.nix {inherit (pkgs) dietlibc fetchurl runCommand;})
     overrideGCC overrideInStdenv overrideSetup
     useDietLibC useKlibc makeStaticBinaries addAttrsToDerivation
-    keepBuildTree cleanupBuildTree addCoverageInstrumentation;
+    keepBuildTree cleanupBuildTree addCoverageInstrumentation
+    replaceMaintainersField;
 
 
   ### BUILD SUPPORT