diff --git a/rattail_fabric2/python.py b/rattail_fabric2/python.py
index 248f1fe..111a20f 100644
--- a/rattail_fabric2/python.py
+++ b/rattail_fabric2/python.py
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ def install_pythonz(c):
         'curl',
         # these are needed when building python:
         'libsqlite3-dev',
+        'libssl-dev',
         'zlib1g-dev',
     )
     if not exists(c, '/usr/local/pythonz'):