diff --git a/pkgs/development/interpreters/python/wrap.sh b/pkgs/development/interpreters/python/wrap.sh
index 6beb55f055b5..030b3d2b6d85 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/interpreters/python/wrap.sh
+++ b/pkgs/development/interpreters/python/wrap.sh
@@ -81,14 +81,13 @@ wrapPythonProgramsIn() {
 
                     # Add any additional arguments provided by makeWrapperArgs
                     # argument to buildPythonPackage.
-                    local -a user_args
                     # We need to support both the case when makeWrapperArgs
                     # is an array and a IFS-separated string.
                     # TODO: remove the string branch when __structuredAttrs are used.
                     if [[ "$(declare -p makeWrapperArgs)" =~ ^'declare -a makeWrapperArgs=' ]]; then
-                        user_args=("${makeWrapperArgs[@]}")
+                        local -a user_args=("${makeWrapperArgs[@]}")
                     else
-                        user_args="($makeWrapperArgs)"
+                        local -a user_args="($makeWrapperArgs)"
                     fi
 
                     local -a wrapProgramArgs=("${wrap_args[@]}" "${user_args[@]}")