diff --git a/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix b/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix
index d5eaffcb102..728253b52d4 100644
--- a/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix
+++ b/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix
@@ -2346,6 +2346,7 @@ in {
 
   fenics = callPackage ../development/libraries/science/math/fenics {
     pytest = self.pytest_4;
+    hdf5 = pkgs.hdf5_1_10;
   };
 
   ffmpeg-python = callPackage ../development/python-modules/ffmpeg-python { };