diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/numcodecs/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/numcodecs/default.nix
index 775cfeded8b..f2ce5248b55 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/numcodecs/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/numcodecs/default.nix
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 , msgpack
 , pytest
 , python
+, gcc8
 }:
 
 buildPythonPackage rec {
@@ -21,6 +22,7 @@ buildPythonPackage rec {
   nativeBuildInputs = [
     setuptools_scm
     cython
+    gcc8
   ];
 
   propagatedBuildInputs = [
diff --git a/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix b/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix
index 1c38b47576a..1c782e8f94b 100644
--- a/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix
+++ b/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix
@@ -4075,7 +4075,9 @@ in {
 
   numba = callPackage ../development/python-modules/numba { };
 
-  numcodecs = callPackage ../development/python-modules/numcodecs { };
+  numcodecs = callPackage ../development/python-modules/numcodecs {
+    inherit (pkgs) gcc8;
+  };
 
   numexpr = callPackage ../development/python-modules/numexpr { };