diff --git a/examples/python/devenv.nix b/examples/python/devenv.nix
index a94747eeb..cd74a3e07 100644
--- a/examples/python/devenv.nix
+++ b/examples/python/devenv.nix
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-{ pkgs, lib, ... }:
+{ pkgs, ... }:
 
 {
   languages.python = {
@@ -6,6 +6,6 @@
     version = "3.11.3";
 
     venv.enable = true;
-    venv.requirements = lib.readFile ./requirements.txt;
+    venv.requirements = ./requirements.txt;
   };
-}
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/modules/languages/python.nix b/src/modules/languages/python.nix
index 8fe98e523..27673a44c 100644
--- a/src/modules/languages/python.nix
+++ b/src/modules/languages/python.nix
@@ -3,6 +3,12 @@
 let
   cfg = config.languages.python;
 
+  requirements = pkgs.writeText "requirements.txt" (
+    if lib.isPath cfg.venv.requirements
+    then builtins.readFile cfg.venv.requirements
+    else cfg.venv.requirements
+  );
+
   nixpkgs-python = inputs.nixpkgs-python or (throw ''
     To use languages.python.version, you need to add the following to your devenv.yaml:
 
@@ -34,7 +40,7 @@ let
     fi
     source "$VENV_PATH"/bin/activate
     ${lib.optionalString (cfg.venv.requirements != null) ''
-      "$VENV_PATH"/bin/pip install -r ${pkgs.writeText "requirements.txt" cfg.venv.requirements}
+      "$VENV_PATH"/bin/pip install -r ${requirements}
     ''}
   '';
 
@@ -113,7 +119,7 @@ in
     venv.enable = lib.mkEnableOption "Python virtual environment";
 
     venv.requirements = lib.mkOption {
-      type = lib.types.nullOr lib.types.lines;
+      type = lib.types.nullOr (lib.types.either lib.types.lines lib.types.path);
       default = null;
       description = ''
         Contents of pip requirements.txt file.