diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/silgraphite/graphite2.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/silgraphite/graphite2.nix
index 30a99415981b..dc3f4a118f6d 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/silgraphite/graphite2.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/silgraphite/graphite2.nix
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-{ stdenv, fetchurl, pkgconfig, freetype, cmake }:
+{ stdenv, fetchurl, pkgconfig, freetype, cmake, python }:
 
 stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
   version = "1.3.6";
@@ -15,6 +15,9 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
 
   patches = stdenv.lib.optionals stdenv.isDarwin [ ./macosx.patch ];
 
+  checkInputs = [ python ];
+  doCheck = false; # fails, probably missing something
+
   meta = {
     description = "An advanced font engine";
     maintainers = [ stdenv.lib.maintainers.raskin ];