diff --git a/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix b/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix
index 22fc3ac5b69..aa41bb54d66 100644
--- a/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix
+++ b/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix
@@ -1852,12 +1852,11 @@ let pythonPackages = python.modules // rec {
 
     doCheck = false;
 
-    preConfigure = ''
-      substituteInPlace setup.py --replace '--static-libs' '--libs'
+    installCommand = ''
+       substituteInPlace setup.py --replace '--static-libs' '--libs'
+       python setup.py install --prefix=$out
     '';
 
-    installCommand = "python setup.py install --prefix=$out";
-
     meta = {
       homepage = http://pycurl.sourceforge.net/;
       description = "Python wrapper for libcurl";