diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/pyarrow/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/pyarrow/default.nix
index d568cea78517..125967c6fd61 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/pyarrow/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/pyarrow/default.nix
@@ -25,6 +25,10 @@ buildPythonPackage rec {
     "-DCMAKE_POLICY_DEFAULT_CMP0025=NEW"
   ];
 
+  preBuild = ''
+    export PYARROW_PARALLEL=$NIX_BUILD_CORES
+  '';
+
   preCheck = ''
     rm pyarrow/tests/test_jvm.py
     rm pyarrow/tests/test_hdfs.py