diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/opencv/3.x.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/opencv/3.x.nix
index 0188e5e1ae9..d295efe6fee 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/opencv/3.x.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/opencv/3.x.nix
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 , fetchFromGitHub
 , fetchpatch
 , cmake, pkg-config, unzip, zlib, pcre, hdf5
-, glog, boost, gflags, protobuf
+, glog, boost, gflags, protobuf3_21
 , config
 
 , enableJPEG      ? true, libjpeg
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation {
 
   buildInputs =
        [ zlib pcre hdf5 glog boost gflags ]
-    ++ lib.optional useSystemProtobuf protobuf
+    ++ lib.optional useSystemProtobuf protobuf3_21
     ++ lib.optional enablePython pythonPackages.python
     ++ lib.optional enableGtk2 gtk2
     ++ lib.optional enableGtk3 gtk3
diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/opencv/4.x.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/opencv/4.x.nix
index c82f0a0065b..2bc3954f8ab 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/opencv/4.x.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/opencv/4.x.nix
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 , hdf5
 , boost
 , gflags
-, protobuf
+, protobuf3_21
 , config
 , ocl-icd
 , buildPackages
@@ -317,7 +317,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation {
     echo '"(build info elided)"' > modules/core/version_string.inc
   '';
 
-  buildInputs = [ zlib pcre boost gflags protobuf ]
+  buildInputs = [ zlib pcre boost gflags protobuf3_21 ]
     ++ lib.optional enablePython pythonPackages.python
     ++ lib.optional (stdenv.buildPlatform == stdenv.hostPlatform) hdf5
     ++ lib.optional enableGtk2 gtk2
@@ -369,7 +369,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation {
     "-DOPENCV_GENERATE_PKGCONFIG=ON"
     "-DWITH_OPENMP=ON"
     "-DBUILD_PROTOBUF=OFF"
-    "-DProtobuf_PROTOC_EXECUTABLE=${lib.getExe buildPackages.protobuf}"
+    "-DProtobuf_PROTOC_EXECUTABLE=${lib.getExe buildPackages.protobuf3_21}"
     "-DPROTOBUF_UPDATE_FILES=ON"
     "-DOPENCV_ENABLE_NONFREE=${printEnabled enableUnfree}"
     "-DBUILD_TESTS=${printEnabled runAccuracyTests}"