diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/m2crypto/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/m2crypto/default.nix
index cd9781dbc889..56e1de49f20a 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/m2crypto/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/m2crypto/default.nix
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 { stdenv
+, lib
 , fetchpatch
 , buildPythonPackage
 , fetchPypi
+, pythonOlder
 , swig2
 , openssl
 , typing
@@ -28,7 +30,7 @@ buildPythonPackage rec {
   nativeBuildInputs = [ swig2 ];
   buildInputs = [ swig2 openssl ];
 
-  propagatedBuildInputs = [ typing ];
+  propagatedBuildInputs = lib.optional (pythonOlder "3.5") typing;
 
   preConfigure = ''
     substituteInPlace setup.py --replace "self.openssl = '/usr'" "self.openssl = '${openssl.dev}'"