diff --git a/pkgs/development/tools/build-managers/cmake/setup-hook.sh b/pkgs/development/tools/build-managers/cmake/setup-hook.sh
index 42b4999cfba4..f095103ee044 100755
--- a/pkgs/development/tools/build-managers/cmake/setup-hook.sh
+++ b/pkgs/development/tools/build-managers/cmake/setup-hook.sh
@@ -16,6 +16,9 @@ cmakeConfigurePhase() {
     runHook preConfigure
 
     export CTEST_OUTPUT_ON_FAILURE=1
+    if [ -n "${enableParallelChecking-1}" ]; then
+        export CTEST_PARALLEL_LEVEL=$NIX_BUILD_CORES
+    fi
 
     if [ -z "$dontFixCmake" ]; then
         fixCmakeFiles .