diff --git a/packages/python/build.sh b/packages/python/build.sh
index 293a50d85..a28bc01fc 100644
--- a/packages/python/build.sh
+++ b/packages/python/build.sh
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ termux_step_pre_configure() {
 	# if extension modules should be built (specifically, the
 	# zlib extension module is not built without this):
 	CPPFLAGS+=" -I$TERMUX_STANDALONE_TOOLCHAIN/sysroot/usr/include"
+	LDFLAGS+=" -L$TERMUX_STANDALONE_TOOLCHAIN/sysroot/usr/lib"
 }
 
 termux_step_post_configure () {