diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/scipy/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/scipy/default.nix
index ed4e205a2ae9..f4e4518ef168 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/scipy/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/scipy/default.nix
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ buildPythonPackage rec {
 
   preConfigure = ''
     sed -i '0,/from numpy.distutils.core/s//import setuptools;from numpy.distutils.core/' setup.py
+    export NPY_NUM_BUILD_JOBS=$NIX_BUILD_CORES
   '';
 
   preBuild = ''
@@ -31,6 +32,8 @@ buildPythonPackage rec {
     EOF
   '';
 
+  enableParallelBuilding = true;
+
   checkPhase = ''
     runHook preCheck
     pushd dist