diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/sopel/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/sopel/default.nix
index 744c4550d9eb..ac425065d52a 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/sopel/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/sopel/default.nix
@@ -52,7 +52,10 @@ buildPythonPackage rec {
 
   pythonRemoveDeps = [ "sopel-help" ];
 
-  pythonRelaxDeps = [ "sqlalchemy" ];
+  pythonRelaxDeps = [
+    "sqlalchemy"
+    "xmltodict"
+  ];
 
   nativeCheckInputs = [ pytestCheckHook ];