diff --git a/tensorflow/workspace.bzl b/tensorflow/workspace.bzl
index ca2fcefdac1..33643c1ca2c 100644
--- a/tensorflow/workspace.bzl
+++ b/tensorflow/workspace.bzl
@@ -707,6 +707,7 @@ def tf_workspace(path_prefix="", tf_repo_name=""):
       strip_prefix = "cython-0.28.4",
       build_file = clean_dep("//third_party:cython.BUILD"),
       delete = ["BUILD.bazel"],
+      system_build_file = clean_dep("//third_party/systemlibs:cython.BUILD"),
   )
 
   tf_http_archive(
diff --git a/third_party/systemlibs/cython.BUILD b/third_party/systemlibs/cython.BUILD
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..1d525876765
--- /dev/null
+++ b/third_party/systemlibs/cython.BUILD
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+licenses(["notice"])  # Apache-2.0
+
+genrule(
+    name = "lncython",
+    outs = ["cython"],
+    cmd = "ln -s $$(which cython) $@",
+)
+
+sh_binary(
+    name = "cython_binary",
+    srcs = ["cython"],
+    visibility = ["//visibility:public"],
+)