diff --git a/dev-python/pexpect/pexpect-3.3.ebuild b/dev-python/pexpect/pexpect-3.3.ebuild
index afe8265d43585..fb9e01977805b 100644
--- a/dev-python/pexpect/pexpect-3.3.ebuild
+++ b/dev-python/pexpect/pexpect-3.3.ebuild
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 EAPI=5
 
 PYTHON_COMPAT=( python2_7 python3_{3,4,5} pypy pypy3 )
+PYTHON_REQ_USE="threads(+)"
 
 inherit distutils-r1
 
diff --git a/dev-python/pexpect/pexpect-4.0.1.ebuild b/dev-python/pexpect/pexpect-4.0.1.ebuild
index 83095a7e7bfb1..bfc629adf1c24 100644
--- a/dev-python/pexpect/pexpect-4.0.1.ebuild
+++ b/dev-python/pexpect/pexpect-4.0.1.ebuild
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 EAPI=5
 
 PYTHON_COMPAT=( python2_7 python3_{3,4,5} pypy pypy3 )
+PYTHON_REQ_USE="threads(+)"
 
 inherit distutils-r1