diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/ase/3.17.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/ase/3.17.nix
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..3a466170c77c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/ase/3.17.nix
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+{ lib
+, fetchPypi
+, buildPythonPackage
+, numpy
+, scipy
+, matplotlib
+, flask
+, pillow
+, psycopg2
+}:
+
+buildPythonPackage rec {
+  pname = "ase";
+  version = "3.17.0";
+
+  src = fetchPypi {
+    inherit pname version;
+    sha256 = "1d4gxypaahby45zcpl0rffcn2z7n55dg9lcd8sv6jjsmbbf9vr4g";
+  };
+
+  propagatedBuildInputs = [ numpy scipy matplotlib flask pillow psycopg2 ];
+
+  checkPhase = ''
+    $out/bin/ase test
+  '';
+
+  # tests just hang most likely due to something with subprocesses and cli
+  doCheck = false;
+
+  meta = with lib; {
+    description = "Atomic Simulation Environment";
+    homepage = https://wiki.fysik.dtu.dk/ase/;
+    license = licenses.lgpl21Plus;
+    maintainers = with maintainers; [ costrouc ];
+  };
+}
diff --git a/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix b/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix
index 0896322e5105..224075a528ee 100644
--- a/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix
+++ b/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix
@@ -183,7 +183,10 @@ in {
 
   asciitree = callPackage ../development/python-modules/asciitree { };
 
-  ase = callPackage ../development/python-modules/ase { };
+  ase = if isPy27 then
+          callPackage ../development/python-modules/ase/3.17.nix { }
+        else
+          callPackage ../development/python-modules/ase { };
 
   asn1crypto = callPackage ../development/python-modules/asn1crypto { };