diff --git a/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix b/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix
index 9dd3feb96ed2..7651d1f56724 100644
--- a/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix
+++ b/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix
@@ -4536,10 +4536,12 @@ self: super: with self; {
 
   fontfeatures = callPackage ../development/python-modules/fontfeatures { };
 
-  fontforge = toPythonModule (pkgs.fontforge.override {
-    withPython = true;
-    inherit python;
-  });
+  fontforge = disabledIf
+    (pythonOlder "3.10")
+    (toPythonModule (pkgs.fontforge.override {
+      withPython = true;
+      inherit python;
+    }));
 
   fontmath = callPackage ../development/python-modules/fontmath { };