diff --git a/cabal-install/Distribution/Client/Config.hs b/cabal-install/Distribution/Client/Config.hs
index da8e762bdfb..c1b4de5fabc 100644
--- a/cabal-install/Distribution/Client/Config.hs
+++ b/cabal-install/Distribution/Client/Config.hs
@@ -978,7 +978,9 @@ installDirsFields = map viewAsFieldDescr installDirsOptions
 
 ppRemoteRepoSection :: RemoteRepo -> Doc
 ppRemoteRepoSection vals = ppSection "repository" (remoteRepoName vals)
-        remoteRepoFields Nothing vals
+        remoteRepoFields def vals
+  where
+    def = Just (emptyRemoteRepo "ignored") { remoteRepoSecure = Just False }
 
 remoteRepoFields :: [FieldDescr RemoteRepo]
 remoteRepoFields =