diff --git a/nixos/tests/retroarch.nix b/nixos/tests/retroarch.nix
index c506ed02da89..877995486225 100644
--- a/nixos/tests/retroarch.nix
+++ b/nixos/tests/retroarch.nix
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import ./make-test-python.nix ({ pkgs, ... }:
         services.xserver.enable = true;
         services.xserver.desktopManager.retroarch = {
           enable = true;
-          package = pkgs.retroarchFull;
+          package = pkgs.retroarchBare;
         };
         services.xserver.displayManager = {
           sddm.enable = true;
diff --git a/pkgs/applications/emulators/retroarch/default.nix b/pkgs/applications/emulators/retroarch/default.nix
index 29d3e9562d9b..3dd8bfdf2b76 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/emulators/retroarch/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/emulators/retroarch/default.nix
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 { lib
 , stdenv
+, nixosTests
 , enableNvidiaCgToolkit ? false
 , withGamemode ? stdenv.isLinux
 , withVulkan ? stdenv.isLinux
@@ -135,6 +136,8 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     #   https://github.com/libretro/RetroArch/issues/14025
     ++ lib.optionals stdenv.isDarwin [ "-fcommon" ];
 
+  passthru.tests = nixosTests.retroarch;
+
   meta = with lib; {
     homepage = "https://libretro.com";
     description = "Multi-platform emulator frontend for libretro cores";