diff --git a/python/pyarrow/tests/test_serialization.py b/python/pyarrow/tests/test_serialization.py
index 0917172d22c..feccebbde36 100644
--- a/python/pyarrow/tests/test_serialization.py
+++ b/python/pyarrow/tests/test_serialization.py
@@ -580,6 +580,22 @@ def deserialize_regex(serialized, q):
     p.join()
 
 
+def _get_modified_env_with_pythonpath():
+    # Prepend pyarrow root directory to PYTHONPATH
+    env = os.environ.copy()
+    existing_pythonpath = env.get('PYTHONPATH', '')
+    if sys.platform == 'win32':
+        sep = ';'
+    else:
+        sep = ':'
+
+    module_path = os.path.abspath(
+        os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(pa.__file__)))
+
+    env['PYTHONPATH'] = sep.join((module_path, existing_pythonpath))
+    return env
+
+
 def test_deserialize_buffer_in_different_process():
     import tempfile
     import subprocess
@@ -589,9 +605,12 @@ def test_deserialize_buffer_in_different_process():
     f.write(b.to_pybytes())
     f.close()
 
+    subprocess_env = _get_modified_env_with_pythonpath()
+
     dir_path = os.path.dirname(os.path.realpath(__file__))
     python_file = os.path.join(dir_path, 'deserialize_buffer.py')
-    subprocess.check_call([sys.executable, python_file, f.name])
+    subprocess.check_call([sys.executable, python_file, f.name],
+                          env=subprocess_env)
 
 
 def test_set_pickle():