diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/apache-airflow/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/apache-airflow/default.nix
index 4943a2e53f7..706648f56a3 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/apache-airflow/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/apache-airflow/default.nix
@@ -167,6 +167,9 @@ buildPythonPackage rec {
       --replace "/bin/bash" "${stdenv.shell}"
   '';
 
+  # allow for gunicorn processes to have access to python packages
+  makeWrapperArgs = [ "--prefix PYTHONPATH : $PYTHONPATH" ];
+
   checkPhase = ''
    export HOME=$(mktemp -d)
    export AIRFLOW_HOME=$HOME