diff --git a/roles/python/defaults/main.yml b/roles/python/defaults/main.yml
index 194718c..ade8fbe 100644
--- a/roles/python/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/roles/python/defaults/main.yml
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
 python_packages:
   - python3-pip
   - python3-virtualenv
+  # required e.g. for mysqlclient
+  - pkg-config
 
 python_with_dev: false