diff --git a/systemd-env-hbase-exporter.j2 b/systemd-env-hbase-exporter.j2
index 7ec1f20..bd95084 100644
--- a/systemd-env-hbase-exporter.j2
+++ b/systemd-env-hbase-exporter.j2
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+PROTOCOL_BUFFERS_PYTHON_IMPLEMENTATION="python"
 EXPORT_REFRESH_RATE="{{ hbase_exporter_refresh_rate }}"
 HBASE_HOST="{{ hbase_exporter_hbase_host }}"
 HBASE_TABLE="{{ hbase_exporter_hbase_tablename }}"