diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/gin-config/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/gin-config/default.nix
index 9203a6cf33a..d1852a1392a 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/gin-config/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/gin-config/default.nix
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 , enum34
 , absl-py
 , tensorflow
+, withTensorflow ? true
 }:
 
 buildPythonPackage rec {
@@ -17,7 +18,7 @@ buildPythonPackage rec {
 
   };
 
-  buildInputs = [ six enum34 tensorflow ];
+  propogatedBuildInputs = [ six enum34 ] + lib.optional withTensorflow tensorflow;
   checkInputs = [ absl-py tensorflow ];
 
   meta = with lib; {