diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/libxml2/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/libxml2/default.nix
index c076e66f0e6..c5f9eac5fc0 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/libxml2/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/libxml2/default.nix
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
 
   configureFlags = stdenv.lib.optionalString pythonSupport "--with-python=${python}";
 
+  buildInputs = stdenv.lib.optional pythonSupport [ python ];
+
   propagatedBuildInputs = [ zlib ];
 
   setupHook = ./setup-hook.sh;