diff --git a/pkgs/desktops/gnome-3/apps/gnome-characters/default.nix b/pkgs/desktops/gnome-3/apps/gnome-characters/default.nix
index 92ce0eb8deb..8b497fbf433 100644
--- a/pkgs/desktops/gnome-3/apps/gnome-characters/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/desktops/gnome-3/apps/gnome-characters/default.nix
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-{ stdenv, fetchurl, meson, ninja, pkgconfig, gettext, gnome3, glib, gtk3, pango, wrapGAppsHook
+{ stdenv, fetchurl, meson, ninja, pkgconfig, gettext, gnome3, glib, gtk3, pango, wrapGAppsHook, python3
 , gobjectIntrospection, gjs, libunistring }:
 
 stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     };
   };
 
-  nativeBuildInputs = [ meson ninja pkgconfig gettext wrapGAppsHook gobjectIntrospection ];
+  nativeBuildInputs = [ meson ninja pkgconfig gettext wrapGAppsHook python3 gobjectIntrospection ];
   buildInputs = [ glib gtk3 gjs pango gnome3.gsettings-desktop-schemas gnome3.defaultIconTheme libunistring ];
 
   mesonFlags = [