diff --git a/pkgs/development/interpreters/lua-5/build-lua-package.nix b/pkgs/development/interpreters/lua-5/build-lua-package.nix
index f46f88f5e1fa..98a98c0dd348 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/interpreters/lua-5/build-lua-package.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/interpreters/lua-5/build-lua-package.nix
@@ -230,6 +230,13 @@ builtins.removeAttrs attrs ["disabled" "checkInputs" "externalDeps" "extraVariab
     runHook postInstall
   '';
 
+
+  checkPhase = attrs.checkPhase or ''
+    runHook preCheck
+    $LUAROCKS test
+    runHook postCheck
+  '';
+
   passthru = {
     inherit lua; # The lua interpreter
     inherit externalDeps;