diff --git a/root.bp b/root.bp
index 582552e41..31a95fd4d 100644
--- a/root.bp
+++ b/root.bp
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ optional_subdirs = [
     "development/*",
     "device/*/*",
     "external/*",
+    "external/python/*",
     "frameworks/*",
     "frameworks/compile/*",
     "frameworks/hardware/interfaces",