diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/pycairo/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/pycairo/default.nix
index 587013e30f8c..85edbdb29b44 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/pycairo/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/pycairo/default.nix
@@ -40,7 +40,10 @@ buildPythonPackage rec {
   ];
 
   mesonFlags = [
-    "-Dpython=${python.interpreter}"
+    # This is only used for figuring out what version of Python is in
+    # use, and related stuff like figuring out what the install prefix
+    # should be, but it does need to be able to execute Python code.
+    "-Dpython=${python.pythonForBuild.interpreter}"
   ];
 
   meta = with lib; {
diff --git a/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix b/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix
index c688ca380e5d..abffa273bf7b 100644
--- a/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix
+++ b/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix
@@ -6182,7 +6182,7 @@ in {
   pybullet = callPackage ../development/python-modules/pybullet { };
 
   pycairo = callPackage ../development/python-modules/pycairo {
-    inherit (pkgs) meson;
+    inherit (pkgs.buildPackages) meson;
   };
 
   pycallgraph = callPackage ../development/python-modules/pycallgraph { };