diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/cwcwidth/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/cwcwidth/default.nix
index 940d41129e57..ede96fc3b41d 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/cwcwidth/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/cwcwidth/default.nix
@@ -13,12 +13,17 @@ buildPythonPackage rec {
   nativeBuildInputs = [ cython ];
 
   checkInputs = [ pytestCheckHook ];
-  # Hack needed to make pytest + cython work
-  # https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/pull/82410#issuecomment-827186298
   preCheck = ''
+    # Hack needed to make pytest + cython work
+    # https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/pull/82410#issuecomment-827186298
     export HOME=$(mktemp -d)
     cp -r $TMP/$sourceRoot/tests $HOME
     pushd $HOME
+
+    # locale settings used by upstream, has the effect of skipping
+    # otherwise-failing tests on darwin
+    export LC_ALL='C.UTF-8'
+    export LANG='C.UTF-8'
   '';
   postCheck = "popd";