diff --git a/pkgs/by-name/mu/mutter/package.nix b/pkgs/by-name/mu/mutter/package.nix
index deeeb75022d4..03ad81a4612e 100644
--- a/pkgs/by-name/mu/mutter/package.nix
+++ b/pkgs/by-name/mu/mutter/package.nix
@@ -173,6 +173,12 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation (finalAttrs: {
     libXrandr
     libXinerama
     libXau
+
+    # for gdctl shebang
+    (python3.withPackages (pp: [
+      pp.pygobject3
+      pp.argcomplete
+    ]))
   ];
 
   postPatch = ''