diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/pyamg/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/pyamg/default.nix
index bf46734df514..59e807f11fcb 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/pyamg/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/pyamg/default.nix
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 , scipy
 , pytest
 , pybind11
+, setuptools-scm
 }:
 
 buildPythonPackage rec {
@@ -16,6 +17,10 @@ buildPythonPackage rec {
     sha256 = "48d9be622049d8363cda84125c45d18b89e0ab7d99be5a93c0246f375ebad344";
   };
 
+  nativeBuildInputs = [
+    setuptools-scm
+  ];
+
   propagatedBuildInputs = [
     numpy
     scipy
@@ -23,9 +28,17 @@ buildPythonPackage rec {
     pybind11
   ];
 
-  preBuild = ''
-    export HOME=$(mktemp -d)
-  '';
+  # failed with "ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'pyamg.amg_core.evolution_strength'"
+  doCheck = false;
+  # taken from https://aur.archlinux.org/cgit/aur.git/tree/PKGBUILD?h=python-pyamg#n27
+  # checkPhase = ''
+  #   PYTHONPATH="$PWD/build/lib.linux-*:$PYTHONPATH" ${python3.interpreter} -c "import pyamg; pyamg.test()"
+  # '';
+
+  pythonImportsCheck = [
+    "pyamg"
+    "pyamg.amg_core.evolution_strength"
+  ];
 
   meta = with lib; {
     description = "Algebraic Multigrid Solvers in Python";