diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/netcdf-cxx4/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/netcdf-cxx4/default.nix
index 82d0e8c132d0..3eed199a641e 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/netcdf-cxx4/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/netcdf-cxx4/default.nix
@@ -21,6 +21,9 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
   # Setting Filter....Caught unexpected exception.
   doCheck = false;
   enableParallelChecking = false;
+  preCheck = ''
+    export HDF5_PLUGIN_PATH=${netcdf}/lib/hdf5-plugins
+  '';
 
   meta = {
     description = "C++ API to manipulate netcdf files";