diff --git a/shell.nix b/shell.nix
index 6da3bc6..f6e37c1 100644
--- a/shell.nix
+++ b/shell.nix
@@ -17,6 +17,9 @@ in
       gcc
       gnumake
 
+    # required for python bindings
+    iconv
+
       # dotnet-sdk_8
     ];