diff --git a/pkgs/tools/misc/byobu/default.nix b/pkgs/tools/misc/byobu/default.nix
index ca9a9453dbfc..4491905de4fc 100644
--- a/pkgs/tools/misc/byobu/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/tools/misc/byobu/default.nix
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-{ stdenv, fetchurl, ncurses }:
+{ stdenv, fetchurl, ncurses, python, perl }:
 
 stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
   name = "byobu-5.87";
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
 
   doCheck = true;
 
+  buildInputs = [ python perl ];
+
   meta = {
     homepage = https://launchpad.net/byobu/;
     description = "Text-based window manager and terminal multiplexer";