diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/colorcet/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/colorcet/default.nix
index f92f8004ac00..b877c4cabd5f 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/colorcet/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/colorcet/default.nix
@@ -34,9 +34,9 @@ buildPythonPackage rec {
     export HOME=$(mktemp -d)
     mkdir -p $HOME/.config/matplotlib
     echo "backend: ps" > $HOME/.config/matplotlib/matplotlibrc
+    ln -s $HOME/.config/matplotlib $HOME/.matplotlib
 
-    # disable matplotlib tests on darwin, because it requires a framework build of Python
-    pytest ${stdenv.lib.optionalString stdenv.isDarwin "--ignore=colorcet/tests/test_matplotlib.py"} colorcet
+    pytest colorcet
   '';
 
   meta = with stdenv.lib; {
diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/pytest-mpl/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/pytest-mpl/default.nix
index 37ba58977e15..edf0450366c5 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/pytest-mpl/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/pytest-mpl/default.nix
@@ -26,13 +26,11 @@ buildPythonPackage rec {
     pytest
   ];
 
-  # disable tests on darwin, because it requires a framework build of Python
-  doCheck = !stdenv.isDarwin;
-
   checkPhase = ''
     export HOME=$(mktemp -d)
     mkdir -p $HOME/.config/matplotlib
     echo "backend: ps" > $HOME/.config/matplotlib/matplotlibrc
+    ln -s $HOME/.config/matplotlib $HOME/.matplotlib
 
     pytest
   '';