diff --git a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/libselinux/default.nix b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/libselinux/default.nix
index 6582c6d8e8d6..2c9239b2e7d8 100644
--- a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/libselinux/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/libselinux/default.nix
@@ -35,15 +35,16 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     "MAN3DIR=$(man)/share/man/man3"
     "MAN5DIR=$(man)/share/man/man5"
     "MAN8DIR=$(man)/share/man/man8"
-    "PYTHON=${python3.pythonForBuild}/bin/python"
-    "PYTHONLIBDIR=$(py)/${python3.sitePackages}"
     "SBINDIR=$(bin)/sbin"
     "SHLIBDIR=$(out)/lib"
 
     "LIBSEPOLA=${lib.getLib libsepol}/lib/libsepol.a"
+  ] ++ optionals enablePython [
+    "PYTHON=${python3.pythonForBuild.interpreter}"
+    "PYTHONLIBDIR=$(py)/${python3.sitePackages}"
   ];
 
-  preInstall = ''
+  preInstall = optionalString enablePython ''
     mkdir -p $py/${python3.sitePackages}/selinux
   '';