diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/libarcus/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/libarcus/default.nix
index 8d0bf2b7b17..004fedf79b4 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/libarcus/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/libarcus/default.nix
@@ -15,8 +15,9 @@ buildPythonPackage rec {
 
   disabled = pythonOlder "3.4.0";
 
-  propagatedBuildInputs = [ sip protobuf ];
+  propagatedBuildInputs = [ sip ];
   nativeBuildInputs = [ cmake ];
+  buildInputs = [ protobuf ];
 
   postPatch = ''
     # To workaround buggy SIP detection which overrides PYTHONPATH
diff --git a/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix b/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix
index 5acc12fe4ba..99b2dc5ac38 100644
--- a/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix
+++ b/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix
@@ -2996,7 +2996,7 @@ in {
 
   fs-s3fs = callPackage ../development/python-modules/fs-s3fs { };
 
-  libarcus = callPackage ../development/python-modules/libarcus { };
+  libarcus = callPackage ../development/python-modules/libarcus { inherit (pkgs) protobuf; };
 
   libcloud = callPackage ../development/python-modules/libcloud { };