diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/defusedxml/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/defusedxml/default.nix
index 3abdd0fb792e..797fee025be4 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/defusedxml/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/defusedxml/default.nix
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 , buildPythonPackage
 , fetchPypi
 , pythonOlder
+, python
 }:
 
 buildPythonPackage rec {
@@ -14,6 +15,10 @@ buildPythonPackage rec {
     sha256 = "183fz8xwclhkirwpvpldyypn47r8lgzfz2mk9jgyg7b37jg5vcc6";
   };
 
+  checkPhase = ''
+    ${python.interpreter} tests.py
+  '';
+
   pythonImportsCheck = [ "defusedxml" ];
 
   meta = with lib; {