diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/nipy/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/nipy/default.nix
index d5e399701dc8..9f600bdf86ac 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/nipy/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/nipy/default.nix
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 , buildPythonPackage
 , fetchPypi
 , pythonOlder
+, cython
 , nose
 , matplotlib
 , nibabel
@@ -21,9 +22,14 @@ buildPythonPackage rec {
     sha256 = "a8a2c97ce854fece4aced5a6394b9fdca5846150ad6d2a36b86590924af3c848";
   };
 
+  nativeBuildInputs = [ cython ];
   buildInputs = lib.optionals doCheck [ nose ];
   propagatedBuildInputs = [ matplotlib nibabel numpy scipy sympy ];
 
+  preBuild = ''
+    make recythonize
+  '';
+
   checkPhase = ''    # wants to be run in a different directory
     mkdir nosetests
     cd nosetests