diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/Fabric/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/Fabric/default.nix
index 146c78a5616..2e70d3aa121 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/Fabric/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/Fabric/default.nix
@@ -16,6 +16,12 @@ buildPythonPackage rec {
     sha256 = "47f184b070272796fd2f9f0436799e18f2ccba4ee8ee587796fca192acd46cd2";
   };
 
+  # only relevant to python < 3.4
+  postPatch = ''
+    substituteInPlace setup.py \
+        --replace ', "pathlib2"' ' '
+  '';
+
   propagatedBuildInputs = [ invoke paramiko cryptography ];
   checkInputs = [ pytest mock pytest-relaxed ];