diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/apache-airflow/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/apache-airflow/default.nix
index 438dc46038cb..628cd7927311 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/apache-airflow/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/apache-airflow/default.nix
@@ -238,12 +238,17 @@ buildPythonPackage rec {
     "--prefix PYTHONPATH : $PYTHONPATH"
   ];
 
+  postInstall = ''
+    cp -rv ${airflow-frontend}/static/dist $out/lib/${python.libPrefix}/site-packages/airflow/www/static
+    # Needed for pythonImportsCheck below
+    export HOME=$(mktemp -d)
+  '';
+
   pythonImportsCheck = [
     "airflow"
   ] ++ providerImports;
 
-  checkPhase = ''
-    export HOME=$(mktemp -d)
+  preCheck = ''
     export AIRFLOW_HOME=$HOME
     export AIRFLOW__CORE__UNIT_TEST_MODE=True
     export AIRFLOW_DB="$HOME/airflow.db"
@@ -262,10 +267,6 @@ buildPythonPackage rec {
     "bash_operator_kill" # psutil.AccessDenied
   ];
 
-  postInstall = ''
-    cp -rv ${airflow-frontend}/static/dist $out/lib/${python.libPrefix}/site-packages/airflow/www/static
-  '';
-
   # Updates yarn.lock and package.json
   passthru.updateScript = writeScript "update.sh" ''
     #!/usr/bin/env nix-shell