diff --git a/.envrc b/.envrc
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..3550a30f2de
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.envrc
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+use flake
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 8f1097ae8a1..733d44e8390 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -82,3 +82,4 @@ bench.html
 
 # Emacs
 .projectile
+/.direnv/
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 79db2f27b38..a726cb737c2 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -29,6 +29,16 @@ cabal v2-build Cabal-tests:unit-tests # build Cabal's unit test suite
 cabal v2-build cabal-tests # etc...
 ```
 
+Building Cabal for hacking with Nix (not officially supported)
+--------------------------
+
+```
+nix develop # if you don't have direnv installed
+cabal build cabal
+```
+
+NOTE: Building the cabal library with nix flakes is not officially supported and as such may fall out of date. Be prepared to tweak it and please contribute fixes back.
+
 Running tests
 -------------
 
diff --git a/changelog.d/pr-8753 b/changelog.d/pr-8753
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..918aa965c6b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/pr-8753
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+synopsis: add nix flake for easier contribution for nix users
+packages: cabal-install
+prs: #8753
diff --git a/flake.lock b/flake.lock
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..21300f44183
--- /dev/null
+++ b/flake.lock
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+{
+  "nodes": {
+    "flake-parts": {
+      "inputs": {
+        "nixpkgs-lib": "nixpkgs-lib"
+      },
+      "locked": {
+        "lastModified": 1675933616,
+        "narHash": "sha256-/rczJkJHtx16IFxMmAWu5nNYcSXNg1YYXTHoGjLrLUA=",
+        "owner": "hercules-ci",
+        "repo": "flake-parts",
+        "rev": "47478a4a003e745402acf63be7f9a092d51b83d7",
+        "type": "github"
+      },
+      "original": {
+        "id": "flake-parts",
+        "type": "indirect"
+      }
+    },
+    "nixpkgs": {
+      "locked": {
+        "lastModified": 1675942811,
+        "narHash": "sha256-/v4Z9mJmADTpXrdIlAjFa1e+gkpIIROR670UVDQFwIw=",
+        "owner": "NixOS",
+        "repo": "nixpkgs",
+        "rev": "724bfc0892363087709bd3a5a1666296759154b1",
+        "type": "github"
+      },
+      "original": {
+        "owner": "NixOS",
+        "ref": "nixos-unstable",
+        "repo": "nixpkgs",
+        "type": "github"
+      }
+    },
+    "nixpkgs-lib": {
+      "locked": {
+        "dir": "lib",
+        "lastModified": 1675183161,
+        "narHash": "sha256-Zq8sNgAxDckpn7tJo7V1afRSk2eoVbu3OjI1QklGLNg=",
+        "owner": "NixOS",
+        "repo": "nixpkgs",
+        "rev": "e1e1b192c1a5aab2960bf0a0bd53a2e8124fa18e",
+        "type": "github"
+      },
+      "original": {
+        "dir": "lib",
+        "owner": "NixOS",
+        "ref": "nixos-unstable",
+        "repo": "nixpkgs",
+        "type": "github"
+      }
+    },
+    "root": {
+      "inputs": {
+        "flake-parts": "flake-parts",
+        "nixpkgs": "nixpkgs"
+      }
+    }
+  },
+  "root": "root",
+  "version": 7
+}
diff --git a/flake.nix b/flake.nix
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..6e33f67dce0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/flake.nix
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+{
+  description = "A devshell that enables nix users to just run `cabal build cabal` and start contributing to Cabal";
+
+  inputs = {
+    nixpkgs.url = "github:NixOS/nixpkgs/nixos-unstable";
+  };
+
+  outputs = inputs@{ flake-parts, ... }:
+    flake-parts.lib.mkFlake { inherit inputs; } {
+      systems = [ "x86_64-linux" "aarch64-darwin" ];
+      perSystem = { config, self', inputs', pkgs, system, ... }: {
+        packages.default = pkgs.lib.trace "This flake currently only contains a devshell for use with nix develop";
+        devShells.default = pkgs.mkShell {
+          buildInputs = [ pkgs.ghc pkgs.cabal-install pkgs.zlib ];
+        };
+      };
+      flake = {};
+    };
+}