diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/libffi/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/libffi/default.nix
index 1c7c0715e75..c35448066ee 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/libffi/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/libffi/default.nix
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
-{ stdenv, fetchurl, fetchpatch,  dejagnu, doCheck ? false
+{ stdenv, fetchurl, fetchpatch
 , buildPlatform, hostPlatform, autoreconfHook
+, doCheck ? true, dejagnu
 }:
 
 stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
@@ -40,8 +41,6 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
 
   outputs = [ "out" "dev" "man" "info" ];
 
-  buildInputs = stdenv.lib.optional doCheck dejagnu;
-
   nativeBuildInputs = stdenv.lib.optional hostPlatform.isRiscV autoreconfHook;
 
   configureFlags = [
@@ -54,6 +53,8 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     NIX_HARDENING_ENABLE=''${NIX_HARDENING_ENABLE/fortify/}
   '';
 
+  checkInputs = [ dejagnu ];
+
   inherit doCheck;
 
   dontStrip = hostPlatform != buildPlatform; # Don't run the native `strip' when cross-compiling.