diff --git a/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix b/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix
index c05aff22a5d..cb649a2ec97 100644
--- a/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix
+++ b/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix
@@ -1011,7 +1011,12 @@ let
       sha256 = "f856ea2e9e2947abc1a6557625cc6b0e45228984f397a90c420b2f468dc4cb97";
     };
     doCheck = false;
-    buildInputs = with pkgs; [ liblapack blas ];
+    buildInputs = with pkgs; [ openblasCompat ];
+    preConfigure = ''
+      export CVXOPT_BLAS_LIB_DIR=${pkgs.openblasCompat}/lib
+      export CVXOPT_BLAS_LIB=openblas
+      export CVXOPT_LAPACK_LIB=openblas
+    '';
     meta = {
       homepage = "http://cvxopt.org/";
       description = "Python Software for Convex Optimization";