diff --git a/pkgs/applications/editors/geany/with-vte.nix b/pkgs/applications/editors/geany/with-vte.nix
index 30a7862e5c66..c2c9cf8b39af 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/editors/geany/with-vte.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/editors/geany/with-vte.nix
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@ symlinkJoin {
   '';
 
   meta = {
+    # can't just "inherit (geany) meta;" because:
+    # error: derivation '/nix/store/...-geany-with-vte-2.0.drv' does not have wanted outputs 'man'
     inherit (geany.meta)
       description
       longDescription