diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/google-cloud-workstations/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/google-cloud-workstations/default.nix
index 28a75bc05999..efad3ceffba4 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/google-cloud-workstations/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/google-cloud-workstations/default.nix
@@ -26,6 +26,10 @@ buildPythonPackage (finalAttrs: {
 
   build-system = [ setuptools ];
 
+  pythonRelaxDeps = [
+    "protobuf"
+  ];
+
   dependencies = [
     google-api-core
     google-auth