diff --git a/nodepool/elements/infra-package-needs/pre-install.d/00-gentoo-useflags b/nodepool/elements/infra-package-needs/pre-install.d/00-gentoo-useflags
index 3094408f52..08285bc9aa 100755
--- a/nodepool/elements/infra-package-needs/pre-install.d/00-gentoo-useflags
+++ b/nodepool/elements/infra-package-needs/pre-install.d/00-gentoo-useflags
@@ -12,4 +12,5 @@ if [ "${DISTRO_NAME}" == "gentoo" ]; then
     echo "dev-libs/openssl static-libs -bindist" >> /etc/portage/package.use/openssl
     echo "net-misc/openssh -bindist" >> /etc/portage/package.use/openssh
     echo "sys-libs/zlib static-libs" >> /etc/portage/package.use/zlib
+    echo "dev-lang/python sqlite" >> /etc/portage/package.use/python
 fi