diff --git a/srcpkgs/python3-cvxopt/template b/srcpkgs/python3-cvxopt/template
index 772426a59e6..cc961568f9d 100644
--- a/srcpkgs/python3-cvxopt/template
+++ b/srcpkgs/python3-cvxopt/template
@@ -32,4 +32,6 @@ pre_build() {
 	export CVXOPT_BUILD_FFTW=1
 	export CVXOPT_BLAS_LIB=$(vopt_if openblas 'openblas' 'blas;gslcblas')
 	export CVXOPT_LAPACK_LIB=$(vopt_if openblas 'openblas' 'lapack')
+	# setup.py gets this wrong for i686 (and other 32 bit?)
+	export CVXOPT_SUITESPARSE_INC_DIR=${XBPS_CROSS_BASE}/usr/include/suitesparse
 }