diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/marisa-trie/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/marisa-trie/default.nix
index 031f7b04021b..e646ee71ec43 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/marisa-trie/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/marisa-trie/default.nix
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 { lib
 , buildPythonPackage
 , fetchPypi
+, cython
 , pytestrunner
 , pytest
 , hypothesis
@@ -20,7 +21,11 @@ buildPythonPackage rec {
       --replace "hypothesis==" "hypothesis>="
   '';
 
-  nativeBuildInputs = [ pytestrunner ];
+  nativeBuildInputs = [ cython pytestrunner ];
+
+  preBuild = ''
+    ./update_cpp.sh
+  '';
 
   checkInputs = [ pytest hypothesis ];