diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/sphinx_rtd_theme/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/sphinx_rtd_theme/default.nix
index 0a6040bc592c..6ce714c9a310 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/sphinx_rtd_theme/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/sphinx_rtd_theme/default.nix
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 { stdenv
 , buildPythonPackage
 , fetchPypi
+, sphinx
 }:
 
 buildPythonPackage rec {
@@ -12,6 +13,8 @@ buildPythonPackage rec {
     sha256 = "02f02a676d6baabb758a20c7a479d58648e0f64f13e07d1b388e9bb2afe86a09";
   };
 
+  propagatedBuildInputs = [ sphinx ];
+
   meta = with stdenv.lib; {
     description = "ReadTheDocs.org theme for Sphinx";
     homepage = https://github.com/snide/sphinx_rtd_theme/;