diff --git a/cabal-install/src/Distribution/Client/Init/Defaults.hs b/cabal-install/src/Distribution/Client/Init/Defaults.hs
index a915a5159d3..3852bf835bf 100644
--- a/cabal-install/src/Distribution/Client/Init/Defaults.hs
+++ b/cabal-install/src/Distribution/Client/Init/Defaults.hs
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ myLibHs =
 
 myExeHs :: [String]
 myExeHs =
-  [ "module Main where"
+  [ "module Main (main) where"
   , ""
   , "main :: IO ()"
   , "main = putStrLn \"Hello, Haskell!\""
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ myExeHs =
 
 myLibExeHs :: [String]
 myLibExeHs =
-  [ "module Main where"
+  [ "module Main (main) where"
   , ""
   , "import qualified MyLib (someFunc)"
   , ""
diff --git a/changelog.d/pr-9890 b/changelog.d/pr-9890
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e9861aed7af
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/pr-9890
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+synopsis: `cabal init` generates explicit export lists for Main
+packages: cabal-install
+prs: #9890
+issues: #9889
+
+description: {
+
+- Lack of explicit export list can degrade performance. The `Main` module in particular should always have an explicit export list that contains just the main function. Then, the compiler can do more aggressive optimizations on all the other non-exported functions.
+
+}