diff --git a/data/macros/actions/python.yml b/data/macros/actions/python.yml
index 765763d257..be0b072be2 100644
--- a/data/macros/actions/python.yml
+++ b/data/macros/actions/python.yml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 actions:
 
     # Perform python setup and build with the default options
-    - python:
+    - python_setup:
         command: |
             test -e ./setup.py || ( echo "%%python: The ./setup.py script could not be found" ; exit 1 )
             python3 setup.py build
@@ -31,3 +31,20 @@ actions:
         dependencies:
             - python
             - python-installer
+
+    # Compile .pyc bytecode files from any miscellaneous .py files in the install directory.
+    # TODO: Investigate whether providing additional -opt1.pyc and -opt2.pyc from increasing
+    #       the optimization level is worth it. Python itself has to be invoked with -O/-OO
+    #       in order to use opt1/opt2 .pyc files.
+    - python_compile:
+        command: |
+            function python_compile() {
+                if [ -z "$1" ]; then
+                    python -m compileall -q %(installroot) || exit 1
+                else
+                    python -m compileall -q $* || exit 1
+                fi
+            }
+            python_compile
+        dependencies:
+            - python