diff --git a/pkgs/applications/office/ledger/default.nix b/pkgs/applications/office/ledger/default.nix
index 9675293cfe5..387a71aa04e 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/office/ledger/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/office/ledger/default.nix
@@ -13,7 +13,10 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     fetchSubmodules = true;
   };
 
-  buildInputs = [ boost gmp mpfr libedit python texinfo gnused ];
+  buildInputs = [
+    (boost.override { enablePython = usePython; })
+    gmp mpfr libedit python texinfo gnused
+  ];
 
   nativeBuildInputs = [ cmake ];