diff --git a/packages/python2/build.sh b/packages/python2/build.sh
index 91589cc35..d8f4639af 100644
--- a/packages/python2/build.sh
+++ b/packages/python2/build.sh
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ 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_make_install () {