diff --git a/pkgs/tools/archivers/cpio/default.nix b/pkgs/tools/archivers/cpio/default.nix
index 4fa99a0ea42b..8e14ff178660 100644
--- a/pkgs/tools/archivers/cpio/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/tools/archivers/cpio/default.nix
@@ -8,7 +8,10 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation ({
     sha256 = "1gavgpzqwgkpagjxw72xgxz52y1ifgz0ckqh8g7cckz7jvyhp0mv";
   };
 
-  doCheck = true;
+  # Tests fail on Darwin, see
+  # <http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/bug-cpio/2010-07/msg00012.html> for
+  # details.
+  doCheck = !stdenv.isDarwin;
 
   meta = {
     homepage = http://www.gnu.org/software/cpio/;