diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/plover/4.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/plover/4.nix
index bda985cb0122..a6c0b57df1bb 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/plover/4.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/plover/4.nix
@@ -56,6 +56,11 @@ buildPythonPackage (finalAttrs: {
     wcwidth
     xlib
   ];
+  optional-dependencies = {
+    gui-qt = [
+      pyqt5
+    ];
+  };
   nativeBuildInputs = [
     wrapQtAppsHook
   ];
diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/plover/5.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/plover/5.nix
index ed3a329559bc..59fab4acfe51 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/plover/5.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/plover/5.nix
@@ -110,6 +110,12 @@ buildPythonPackage (finalAttrs: {
     pyobjc-framework-Cocoa
     pyobjc-framework-Quartz
   ];
+  optional-dependencies = {
+    gui-qt = [
+      # TODO(@ShamrockLee): use PySide6-Essentials once available
+      pyside6
+    ];
+  };
   nativeBuildInputs = [
     wrapQtAppsHook
   ];