diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/libiio/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/libiio/default.nix
index 815f23a0527..d217fbd8238 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/libiio/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/libiio/default.nix
@@ -37,19 +37,19 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     flex
     bison
     pkg-config
-  ];
+    python
+  ] ++ lib.optional python.isPy3k python.pkgs.setuptools;
 
   buildInputs = [
-    python
     libxml2
     libusb1
-  ] ++ lib.optional python.isPy3k python.pkgs.setuptools
-    ++ lib.optional avahiSupport avahi
+  ] ++ lib.optional avahiSupport avahi
     ++ lib.optional stdenv.isLinux libaio
     ++ lib.optionals stdenv.isDarwin [ CFNetwork CoreServices ];
 
   cmakeFlags = [
     "-DUDEV_RULES_INSTALL_DIR=${placeholder "out"}/lib/udev/rules.d"
+    "-DPython_EXECUTABLE=${python.pythonForBuild.interpreter}"
     "-DPYTHON_BINDINGS=on"
     # osx framework is disabled,
     # the linux-like directory structure is used for proper output splitting