diff --git a/pkgs/development/interpreters/python/cpython/2.7/default.nix b/pkgs/development/interpreters/python/cpython/2.7/default.nix
index 5c12d7cec55c..9d89e96383f5 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/interpreters/python/cpython/2.7/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/interpreters/python/cpython/2.7/default.nix
@@ -140,7 +140,10 @@ let
     "ac_cv_computed_gotos=yes"
     "ac_cv_file__dev_ptmx=yes"
     "ac_cv_file__dev_ptc=yes"
-  ];
+  ]
+    # Never even try to use lchmod on linux,
+    # don't rely on detecting glibc-isms.
+  ++ optional hostPlatform.isLinux "ac_cv_func_lchmod=no";
 
   postConfigure = if hostPlatform.isCygwin then ''
     sed -i Makefile -e 's,PYTHONPATH="$(srcdir),PYTHONPATH="$(abs_srcdir),'
diff --git a/pkgs/development/interpreters/python/cpython/3.4/default.nix b/pkgs/development/interpreters/python/cpython/3.4/default.nix
index 0946f8743fbe..85c45a9d396f 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/interpreters/python/cpython/3.4/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/interpreters/python/cpython/3.4/default.nix
@@ -96,7 +96,10 @@ in stdenv.mkDerivation {
     "--without-ensurepip"
     "--with-system-expat"
     "--with-system-ffi"
-  ];
+  ]
+    # Never even try to use lchmod on linux,
+    # don't rely on detecting glibc-isms.
+  ++ optional stdenv.hostPlatform.isLinux "ac_cv_func_lchmod=no";
 
   preConfigure = ''
     for i in /usr /sw /opt /pkg; do	# improve purity
diff --git a/pkgs/development/interpreters/python/cpython/3.5/default.nix b/pkgs/development/interpreters/python/cpython/3.5/default.nix
index 22c55d302625..d67cc7286942 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/interpreters/python/cpython/3.5/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/interpreters/python/cpython/3.5/default.nix
@@ -90,7 +90,10 @@ in stdenv.mkDerivation {
     "--without-ensurepip"
     "--with-system-expat"
     "--with-system-ffi"
-  ];
+  ]
+    # Never even try to use lchmod on linux,
+    # don't rely on detecting glibc-isms.
+  ++ optional stdenv.hostPlatform.isLinux "ac_cv_func_lchmod=no";
 
   preConfigure = ''
     for i in /usr /sw /opt /pkg; do	# improve purity
diff --git a/pkgs/development/interpreters/python/cpython/3.6/default.nix b/pkgs/development/interpreters/python/cpython/3.6/default.nix
index 950a165a2f4a..ee9a0df9a8c4 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/interpreters/python/cpython/3.6/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/interpreters/python/cpython/3.6/default.nix
@@ -113,7 +113,10 @@ in stdenv.mkDerivation {
     "ac_cv_computed_gotos=yes"
     "ac_cv_file__dev_ptmx=yes"
     "ac_cv_file__dev_ptc=yes"
-  ];
+  ]
+    # Never even try to use lchmod on linux,
+    # don't rely on detecting glibc-isms.
+  ++ optional stdenv.hostPlatform.isLinux "ac_cv_func_lchmod=no";
 
   preConfigure = ''
     for i in /usr /sw /opt /pkg; do	# improve purity