diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/opentelemetry-proto/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/opentelemetry-proto/default.nix
index 8fcaf2a3b516..ee972ff524d9 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/opentelemetry-proto/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/opentelemetry-proto/default.nix
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ buildPythonPackage {
 
   sourceRoot = "${opentelemetry-api.src.name}/opentelemetry-proto";
 
+  pythonRelaxDeps = [ "protobuf" ];
+
   build-system = [ hatchling ];
 
   dependencies = [ protobuf ];