diff --git a/xbmc/interfaces/python/XBPython.cpp b/xbmc/interfaces/python/XBPython.cpp
index f20551007154d..695c6dbeff06a 100644
--- a/xbmc/interfaces/python/XBPython.cpp
+++ b/xbmc/interfaces/python/XBPython.cpp
@@ -564,7 +564,8 @@ bool XBPython::OnScriptInitialized(ILanguageInvoker *invoker)
 
 
     // Darwin packs .pyo files, we need PYTHONOPTIMIZE on in order to load them.
-#if defined(TARGET_DARWIN)
+    // linux built with unified builds only packages the pyo files so need it
+#if defined(TARGET_DARWIN) || defined(TARGET_LINUX)
     setenv("PYTHONOPTIMIZE", "1", 1);
 #endif
     // Info about interesting python envvars available