diff --git a/SConstruct b/SConstruct
index 60a16ca77..0630e68e6 100644
--- a/SConstruct
+++ b/SConstruct
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ else:
     defaults.threadFlags = '-pthread'
 
 defaults.fsLayout = 'compact' if env['OS'] == 'Windows' else 'standard'
-defaults.env_vars = 'LD_LIBRARY_PATH' if 'LD_LIBRARY_PATH' in os.environ else ''
+defaults.env_vars = 'LD_LIBRARY_PATH,PYTHONPATH'
 defaults.python_prefix = '$prefix' if env['OS'] != 'Windows' else ''
 
 # Transform lists into strings to keep cantera.conf clean