diff --git a/pkgs/development/interpreters/octave/default.nix b/pkgs/development/interpreters/octave/default.nix
index 6cc70fad247..7fd66dc4275 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/interpreters/octave/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/interpreters/octave/default.nix
@@ -192,6 +192,7 @@ in mkDerivation rec {
     qrupdate = qrupdate';
     arpack = arpack';
     suitesparse = suitesparse';
+    inherit python;
   };
 
   meta = {