diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/libftdi/1.x.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/libftdi/1.x.nix
index e19a9764bdf9..75c9beea9b98 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/libftdi/1.x.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/libftdi/1.x.nix
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     "-DLINK_PYTHON_LIBRARY=${onOff pythonSupport}"
     "-DPYTHON_BINDINGS=${onOff pythonSupport}"
     "-DDOCUMENTATION=${onOff docSupport}"
+  ] ++ lib.optionals pythonSupport [
     "-DPYTHON_EXECUTABLE=${python3.pythonForBuild.interpreter}"
     "-DPYTHON_LIBRARY=${python3}/lib/libpython${python3.pythonVersion}${stdenv.hostPlatform.extensions.sharedLibrary}"
   ];