diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/linecache2/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/linecache2/default.nix
index 9890d382742c..a2c7080e2701 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/linecache2/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/linecache2/default.nix
@@ -2,9 +2,10 @@
 , buildPythonPackage
 , fetchPypi
 , pbr
+, isPy3k
 }:
 
-buildPythonPackage rec {
+buildPythonPackage (rec {
   pname = "linecache2";
   version = "1.0.0";
 
@@ -22,5 +23,8 @@ buildPythonPackage rec {
     homepage = "https://github.com/testing-cabal/linecache2";
     license = licenses.psfl;
   };
-
-}
+# TODO: move into main set, this was to avoid a rebuild
+} // stdenv.lib.optionalAttrs (!isPy3k ) {
+  # syntax error in tests. Tests are likely Python 3 only.
+  dontUsePythonRecompileBytecode = !isPy3k;
+})