diff --git a/pkgs/development/tools/misc/gdb/default.nix b/pkgs/development/tools/misc/gdb/default.nix
index 30f824c4e476..fd15916fdfe1 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/tools/misc/gdb/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/tools/misc/gdb/default.nix
@@ -140,6 +140,8 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
   };
 
   meta = with lib; {
+    mainProgram = "gdb";
+
     description = "The GNU Project debugger";
 
     longDescription = ''