diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/pyjet/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/pyjet/default.nix
index 69d20863a77..ca9492cb948 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/pyjet/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/pyjet/default.nix
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-{ lib, buildPythonPackage, fetchPypi, nose, numpy }:
+{ lib, buildPythonPackage, fetchPypi, cython, nose, numpy }:
 
 buildPythonPackage rec {
   pname = "pyjet";
@@ -9,6 +9,15 @@ buildPythonPackage rec {
     sha256 = "1glcwv9ni8i40smfw6m456xjadlkackim5nk33xmas1fa96lpagg";
   };
 
+  # fix for python37
+  # https://github.com/scikit-hep/pyjet/issues/8
+  nativeBuildInputs = [ cython ];
+  preBuild = ''
+    for f in pyjet/src/*.{pyx,pxd}; do
+      cython --cplus "$f"
+    done
+  '';
+
   propagatedBuildInputs = [ numpy ];
   checkInputs = [ nose ];