diff --git a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/openvswitch/generic.nix b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/openvswitch/generic.nix
index 83749782d274..fc4386953f7d 100644
--- a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/openvswitch/generic.nix
+++ b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/openvswitch/generic.nix
@@ -96,6 +96,8 @@ in stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
 
   doCheck = true;
   preCheck = ''
+    export TESTSUITEFLAGS="-j$NIX_BUILD_CORES"
+
     patchShebangs tests/
   '';