diff --git a/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix b/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix
index d7ef1072ec5..ea8a38ac95b 100644
--- a/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix
+++ b/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix
@@ -4892,7 +4892,7 @@ in {
   protobuf = callPackage ../development/python-modules/protobuf {
     disabled = isPyPy;
     doCheck = !isPy3k;
-    protobuf = pkgs.protobuf;
+    protobuf = pkgs.protobuf3_8;
   };
 
   psd-tools = callPackage ../development/python-modules/psd-tools { };