diff --git a/external/python3/ExternalProject_python3.mk b/external/python3/ExternalProject_python3.mk
index 3c4860a85c46..462004d1d1e3 100644
--- a/external/python3/ExternalProject_python3.mk
+++ b/external/python3/ExternalProject_python3.mk
@@ -122,6 +122,7 @@ $(call gb_ExternalProject_get_state_target,python3,build) :
 			$(if $(SYSTEM_SQLITE3),,-I$(gb_UnpackedTarball_workdir)/sqlite3) \
 			$(if $(SYSTEM_LZMA),,-I$(gb_UnpackedTarball_workdir)/lzma/src/liblzma/api) \
 			$(if $(SYSBASE), -I$(SYSBASE)/usr/include) \
+			$(if $(filter LINUX,$(OS)),-I/usr/include/ncursesw) \
 			)" \
 		$(if $(python3_cflags),CFLAGS='$(python3_cflags)') \
 		$(if $(filter -fsanitize=%,$(CC)),LINKCC="$(CXX) -pthread") \