diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/traittypes/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/traittypes/default.nix
index a26ab6b46f81..f129aad9158b 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/traittypes/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/traittypes/default.nix
@@ -35,6 +35,12 @@ buildPythonPackage rec {
   propagatedBuildInputs = [ traitlets ];
 
   nativeCheckInputs = [ numpy pandas xarray nose pytestCheckHook ];
+
+  disabledTestPaths = lib.optional (lib.versionAtLeast numpy.version "1.17") [
+    # https://github.com/jupyter-widgets/traittypes/blob/master/setup.py#L86-L87
+    "traittypes/tests/test_traittypes.py"
+  ];
+
   pythonImportsCheck = [ "traittypes" ];
 
   meta = with lib; {