diff --git a/packages/build-brainscales/package.py b/packages/build-brainscales/package.py
index a919b94921988b4b76bfe16b3cdeef0c47a8c5fb..4fc13e349aa7e27945cf41898cf10f7eb084ce42 100644
--- a/packages/build-brainscales/package.py
+++ b/packages/build-brainscales/package.py
@@ -18,6 +18,9 @@ class BuildBrainscales(WafPackage):
     depends_on('git', type=('build', 'link'))
     depends_on('py-git-review', type=('build', 'link'))
 
+    # hack to provide genpybind PATH in all brainscales-style builds
+    depends_on('genpybind@ebrains', type=('build', 'link'))
+
     def do_fetch(self, mirror_only=False):
         """Setup the project."""