diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/transformers/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/transformers/default.nix
index 19dcc708651d..c5bd0ad11145 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/transformers/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/transformers/default.nix
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 , regex
 , requests
 , numpy
+, packaging
 , protobuf
 , sacremoses
 , tokenizers
@@ -25,6 +26,8 @@ buildPythonPackage rec {
     hash = "sha256-kl1Z2FBo+yqVXUqLaUtet6IycmdcAtfydNTI4MNNrkc=";
   };
 
+  nativeBuildInputs = [ packaging ];
+
   propagatedBuildInputs = [
     cookiecutter
     filelock