diff --git a/pkgs/development/perl-modules/generic/default.nix b/pkgs/development/perl-modules/generic/default.nix
index 9ff63c14e51..aa8d66f037a 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/perl-modules/generic/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/perl-modules/generic/default.nix
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ lib.warnIf (attrs ? name) "builtPerlPackage: `name' (\"${attrs.name}\") is depre
 (let
   defaultMeta = {
     homepage = "https://metacpan.org/release/${lib.getName attrs}"; # TODO: phase-out `attrs.name`
+    mainProgram = attrs.pname or (builtins.parseDrvName attrs.name).name;
     platforms = perl.meta.platforms;
   };