diff --git a/gnu/packages/python.scm b/gnu/packages/python.scm
index 1a2928c052..399c23fc0c 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/python.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/python.scm
@@ -3232,7 +3232,8 @@ operators such as union, intersection, and difference.")
        ("pcre" ,pcre)
        ("r" ,r)))
     (native-inputs
-     `(("python-setuptools" ,python-setuptools)))
+     `(("python-setuptools" ,python-setuptools)
+       ("zlib" ,zlib)))
     (home-page "http://rpy.sourceforge.net/")
     (synopsis "Python interface to the R language")
     (description "rpy2 is a redesign and rewrite of rpy.  It is providing a