diff --git a/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix b/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix
index a7799b75b99c..592bcbd5b372 100644
--- a/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix
+++ b/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix
@@ -629,6 +629,10 @@ let pythonPackages = python.modules // rec {
       md5 = "52bc9dffb394970c27e02853ae3a3241";
     };
 
+    patchPhase = ''
+      sed -e "s#html.entities#htmlentitydefs#g" -i distutils2/pypi/simple.py
+    '';
+
     doCheck = false;
 
     meta = {