diff --git a/guix/build-system/gnu.scm b/guix/build-system/gnu.scm
index 9c53825c4a..67ae46faed 100644
--- a/guix/build-system/gnu.scm
+++ b/guix/build-system/gnu.scm
@@ -178,9 +178,10 @@ use `--strip-all' as the arguments to `strip'."
               flags)))))
     (replacement (and=> (package-replacement p) static-package))))
 
-(define* (dist-package p source)
+(define* (dist-package p source #:key (phases '%dist-phases))
   "Return a package that runs takes source files from the SOURCE directory,
-runs `make distcheck' and whose result is one or more source tarballs."
+runs `make distcheck' and whose result is one or more source tarballs.  The
+exact build phases are defined by PHASES."
   (let ((s source))
     (package (inherit p)
       (name (string-append (package-name p) "-dist"))
@@ -199,7 +200,7 @@ runs `make distcheck' and whose result is one or more source tarballs."
             `((guix build gnu-dist)
               ,@modules))
            ((#:phases _)
-            '%dist-phases))))
+            phases))))
       (native-inputs
        ;; Add autotools & co. as inputs.
        (let ((ref (lambda (module var)