diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/patiencediff/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/patiencediff/default.nix
index e846d1ca75dc..405afb734533 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/patiencediff/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/patiencediff/default.nix
@@ -2,23 +2,44 @@
   lib,
   buildPythonPackage,
   fetchFromGitHub,
+  cargo,
+  rustPlatform,
+  rustc,
   setuptools,
+  setuptools-rust,
   pytestCheckHook,
 }:
 
 buildPythonPackage rec {
   pname = "patiencediff";
-  version = "0.2.15";
+  version = "0.2.18";
   pyproject = true;
 
   src = fetchFromGitHub {
     owner = "breezy-team";
     repo = "patiencediff";
     tag = "v${version}";
-    hash = "sha256-SFu1oN1yE9tKeBgWhgWjDpR31AptGrls0D5kKQed+HI=";
+    hash = "sha256-jwApncXyyc3m3XSsftaRNO/LeXIhdduaiBDm0KEDc98=";
   };
 
-  nativeBuildInputs = [ setuptools ];
+  cargoDeps = rustPlatform.fetchCargoVendor {
+    inherit pname version src;
+    hash = "sha256-GFVam/41RVziU7smtyI45unPe945OCLLQ0MqLqUK2JU=";
+  };
+
+  # make rust bindings non-optional
+  env.CIBUILDWHEEL = "1";
+
+  nativeBuildInputs = [
+    cargo
+    rustPlatform.cargoSetupHook
+    rustc
+  ];
+
+  build-system = [
+    setuptools
+    setuptools-rust
+  ];
 
   nativeCheckInputs = [ pytestCheckHook ];
 
@@ -28,7 +49,7 @@ buildPythonPackage rec {
     description = "C implementation of patiencediff algorithm for Python";
     mainProgram = "patiencediff";
     homepage = "https://github.com/breezy-team/patiencediff";
-    changelog = "https://github.com/breezy-team/patiencediff/releases/tag/v${version}";
+    changelog = "https://github.com/breezy-team/patiencediff/releases/tag/${src.tag}";
     license = lib.licenses.gpl2Plus;
     maintainers = with lib.maintainers; [ wildsebastian ];
   };