diff --git a/package/kasc/swig/swig.conf b/package/kasc/swig/swig.conf
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a91860ad0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/package/kasc/swig/swig.conf
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+# also build and install swig runtime
+makeopt="$makeopt swig runtime"
+makeinstopt="$makeinstopt install-runtime"
diff --git a/package/rene/subversion/subversion.conf b/package/rene/subversion/subversion.conf
index 0cd81c726..f029ef1a2 100644
--- a/package/rene/subversion/subversion.conf
+++ b/package/rene/subversion/subversion.conf
@@ -68,10 +68,17 @@ else
 		make install; cd $OLDPWD
 	}
 
+	# build and install python bindings
+	svn_inst_py() {
+		make swig-py
+		make install-swig-py
+	}
+
 	hook_add postmake 3 "install_init svnserve $confdir/svnserve.init"
 	hook_add postmake 4 "cp -vrf tools $docdir"
 
-	# if swig is present build and install the perl 
-	pkginstalled swig && hook_add postmake 5 "svn_inst_pl"
+	# if swig is present build and install the perl and python bindings
+	pkginstalled swig && [ -n "$( type -p perl   )" ] && hook_add postmake 5 "svn_inst_pl"
+	pkginstalled swig && [ -n "$( type -p python )" ] && hook_add postmake 5 "svn_inst_py"
 fi