diff --git a/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix b/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix
index b01af3f2cd3..ca3d7286628 100644
--- a/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix
+++ b/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ pythonPackages = python.modules // rec {
 
   # helpers
 
+  callPackage = pkgs.lib.callPackageWith (pkgs // pythonPackages);
+
   buildPythonPackage = import ../development/python-modules/generic {
     inherit (pkgs) lib;
     inherit python wrapPython setuptools recursivePthLoader offlineDistutils;