linking fails with binutils 2.20.51.20101009-0ubuntu1: cannot use --sysroot

Binary package hint: ghc6

I am using the ghc6 package version 6.12.1-13ubuntu1 on Natty Narwhal:

% lsb_release -rd
Description: Ubuntu natty (development branch)
Release: 11.04
% apt-cache policy ghc6
ghc6:
  Installed: 6.12.1-13ubuntu1
  Candidate: 6.12.1-13ubuntu1
  Version table:
     6.12.3-1 0
        500 http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ experimental/main amd64 Packages
 *** 6.12.1-13ubuntu1 0
        900 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ maverick/universe amd64 Packages
        900 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ natty/universe amd64 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
     6.12.1-13 0
        500 http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ sid/main amd64 Packages

After updating to binutils 2.20.51.20101009-0ubuntu1 in Natty Narwhal, ghc no longer works:

% sudo dpkg -i /var/cache/apt/archives/binutils_2.20.51.20101009-0ubuntu1_amd64.deb /var/cache/apt/archives/binutils-static_2.20.51.20101009-0ubuntu1_amd64.deb
(Reading database ... 291421 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to replace binutils 2.20.51.20100908-0ubuntu2 (using .../binutils_2.20.51.20101009-0ubuntu1_amd64.deb) ...
Unpacking replacement binutils ...
Preparing to replace binutils-static 2.20.51.20100908-0ubuntu2 (using .../binutils-static_2.20.51.20101009-0ubuntu1_amd64.deb) ...
Unpacking replacement binutils-static ...
Setting up binutils (2.20.51.20101009-0ubuntu1) ...
Setting up binutils-static (2.20.51.20101009-0ubuntu1) ...
Processing triggers for man-db ...
Processing triggers for libc-bin ...
ldconfig deferred processing now taking place
sudo dpkg -i 1.08s user 0.58s system 23% cpu 6.973 total
% printf 'main = do\n putStrLn "Hello, world!"\n' > helloworld.hs
% runhugs helloworld.hs
Hello, world!
% ghc helloworld.hs -o helloworld
/usr/bin/ld: this linker was not configured to use sysroots
collect2: ld returned 1 exit status
zsh: exit 1 ghc helloworld.hs -o helloworld
% ls helloworld*
helloworld.hi helloworld.hs helloworld.o

It works when I downgrade to an older binutils package:

% sudo dpkg -i /var/cache/apt/archives/binutils_2.20.51.20100908-0ubuntu2_amd64.deb /var/cache/apt/archives/binutils-static_2.20.51.20100908-0ubuntu2_amd64.deb
dpkg: warning: downgrading binutils from 2.20.51.20101009-0ubuntu1 to 2.20.51.20100908-0ubuntu2.
(Reading database ... 291421 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to replace binutils 2.20.51.20101009-0ubuntu1 (using .../binutils_2.20.51.20100908-0ubuntu2_amd64.deb) ...
Unpacking replacement binutils ...
dpkg: warning: downgrading binutils-static from 2.20.51.20101009-0ubuntu1 to 2.20.51.20100908-0ubuntu2.
Preparing to replace binutils-static 2.20.51.20101009-0ubuntu1 (using .../binutils-static_2.20.51.20100908-0ubuntu2_amd64.deb) ...
Unpacking replacement binutils-static ...
Setting up binutils (2.20.51.20100908-0ubuntu2) ...
Setting up binutils-static (2.20.51.20100908-0ubuntu2) ...
Processing triggers for man-db ...
Processing triggers for libc-bin ...
ldconfig deferred processing now taking place
sudo dpkg -i 1.15s user 0.57s system 23% cpu 7.283 total
% ghc helloworld.hs -o helloworld
compilation IS NOT required
% ls helloworld*
helloworld helloworld.hi helloworld.hs helloworld.o
% ./helloworld
Hello, world!
%

Apparently, --sysroot is disabled in the newer binutils: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+bug/598389

I don't know whether this is a problem that should be resolved in GHC or in binutils.

Let me know if I should provide more information.

Thanks!