diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/boost/1.65.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/boost/1.65.nix
index 56b136cd99b4..427ef072ffea 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/boost/1.65.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/boost/1.65.nix
@@ -9,6 +9,6 @@ callPackage ./generic.nix (args // rec {
     sha256 = "9807a5d16566c57fd74fb522764e0b134a8bbe6b6e8967b83afefd30dcd3be81";
   };
 
-  enableNumpy = true;
+  enableNumpy = args.enableNumpy or true;
 
 })