diff --git a/package/pkg-python.mk b/package/pkg-python.mk
index e81a1a3102..38455e40fb 100644
--- a/package/pkg-python.mk
+++ b/package/pkg-python.mk
@@ -52,10 +52,12 @@ PKG_PYTHON_DISTUTILS_BUILD_OPTS = \
 	--executable=/usr/bin/python
 
 PKG_PYTHON_DISTUTILS_INSTALL_TARGET_OPTS = \
+	--install-headers=/usr/include/python$(PYTHON3_VERSION_MAJOR) \
 	--prefix=/usr \
 	--root=$(TARGET_DIR)
 
 PKG_PYTHON_DISTUTILS_INSTALL_STAGING_OPTS = \
+	--install-headers=/usr/include/python$(PYTHON3_VERSION_MAJOR) \
 	--prefix=/usr \
 	--root=$(STAGING_DIR)
 
@@ -84,12 +86,14 @@ PKG_PYTHON_SETUPTOOLS_ENV = \
 	_python_exec_prefix=/usr
 
 PKG_PYTHON_SETUPTOOLS_INSTALL_TARGET_OPTS = \
+	--install-headers=/usr/include/python$(PYTHON3_VERSION_MAJOR) \
 	--prefix=/usr \
 	--executable=/usr/bin/python \
 	--single-version-externally-managed \
 	--root=$(TARGET_DIR)
 
 PKG_PYTHON_SETUPTOOLS_INSTALL_STAGING_OPTS = \
+	--install-headers=/usr/include/python$(PYTHON3_VERSION_MAJOR) \
 	--prefix=/usr \
 	--executable=/usr/bin/python \
 	--single-version-externally-managed \