diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/grpcio/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/grpcio/default.nix
index cdb252f7434d..ecb15cc024db 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/grpcio/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/grpcio/default.nix
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 { stdenv, buildPythonPackage, darwin, grpc
 , six, protobuf, enum34, futures, isPy27, pkgconfig
-, cython}:
+, cython, c-ares, openssl, zlib }:
 
 buildPythonPackage rec {
   inherit (grpc) src version;
@@ -9,11 +9,16 @@ buildPythonPackage rec {
   nativeBuildInputs = [ cython pkgconfig ]
                     ++ stdenv.lib.optional stdenv.isDarwin darwin.cctools;
 
+  buildInputs = [ c-ares openssl zlib ];
   propagatedBuildInputs = [ six protobuf ]
                         ++ stdenv.lib.optionals (isPy27) [ enum34 futures ];
 
   preBuild = stdenv.lib.optionalString stdenv.isDarwin "unset AR";
 
+  GRPC_PYTHON_BUILD_SYSTEM_OPENSSL = 1;
+  GRPC_PYTHON_BUILD_SYSTEM_ZLIB = 1;
+  GRPC_PYTHON_BUILD_SYSTEM_CARES = 1;
+
   meta = with stdenv.lib; {
     description = "HTTP/2-based RPC framework";
     license = licenses.asl20;