diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/hkdf/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/hkdf/default.nix
index 3a159e6d3493..347cd94c8f51 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/hkdf/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/hkdf/default.nix
@@ -13,12 +13,15 @@ buildPythonPackage rec {
     sha256 = "1jhxk5vhxmxxjp3zj526ry521v9inzzl8jqaaf0ma65w6k332ak2";
   };
 
-  buildInputs = [ nose ];
+  checkInputs = [ nose ];
 
   checkPhase = ''
     nosetests
   '';
 
+  # no tests in PyPI tarball
+  doCheck = false;
+
   meta = with stdenv.lib; {
     description = "HMAC-based Extract-and-Expand Key Derivation Function (HKDF)";
     homepage = "https://github.com/casebeer/python-hkdf";