diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/django-phonenumber-field/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/django-phonenumber-field/default.nix
index 53435de1b101..1890a3b70bc0 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/django-phonenumber-field/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/django-phonenumber-field/default.nix
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
   django,
   djangorestframework,
   fetchFromGitHub,
+  gettext,
   phonenumbers,
   phonenumberslite,
   python,
@@ -39,12 +40,18 @@ buildPythonPackage rec {
     djangorestframework
   ];
 
+  nativeBuildInputs = [ gettext ];
+
   pythonImportsCheck = [ "phonenumber_field" ];
 
   checkPhase = ''
     ${python.interpreter} -m django test --settings tests.settings
   '';
 
+  preBuild = ''
+    ${python.interpreter} -m django compilemessages
+  '';
+
   optional-dependencies = {
     phonenumbers = [ phonenumbers ];
     phonenumberslite = [ phonenumberslite ];