diff --git a/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix b/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix
index 686eede5202d..9f2e4662b62b 100644
--- a/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix
+++ b/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix
@@ -887,6 +887,10 @@ in modules // {
 
     buildInputs = with self; [ pytest ];
 
+    checkPhase = ''
+      py.test
+    '';
+
     meta = {
       description = "Namespace control and lazy-import mechanism";
       homepage = "http://bitbucket.org/hpk42/apipkg";