diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/awkward-cpp/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/awkward-cpp/default.nix
index a32ff89555ce..5dd902bcb968 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/awkward-cpp/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/awkward-cpp/default.nix
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 , fetchPypi
 , pythonOlder
 , cmake
+, ninja
 , numpy
 , pybind11
 , scikit-build-core
@@ -23,6 +24,7 @@ buildPythonPackage rec {
 
   nativeBuildInputs = [
     cmake
+    ninja
     pybind11
     scikit-build-core
   ] ++ scikit-build-core.optional-dependencies.pyproject;
diff --git a/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix b/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix
index 15c38e86f93d..0fa4ade5cd36 100644
--- a/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix
+++ b/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix
@@ -900,7 +900,7 @@ self: super: with self; {
   awkward = callPackage ../development/python-modules/awkward { };
 
   awkward-cpp = callPackage ../development/python-modules/awkward-cpp {
-    inherit (pkgs) cmake;
+    inherit (pkgs) cmake ninja;
   };
 
   aws-adfs = callPackage ../development/python-modules/aws-adfs { };