diff --git a/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix b/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix
index 4f641ede727..98b012ecd46 100644
--- a/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix
+++ b/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix
@@ -5781,6 +5781,11 @@ let
       sha256 = "1zlmsygjw69xlq56vz1z5ivzy9bwc7knjaykn2yy2hv4w2j4yb7k";
     };
 
+    # see https://github.com/python-greenlet/greenlet/issues/85
+    preCheck = ''
+      rm tests/test_leaks.py
+    '';
+
     meta = with stdenv.lib; {
       homepage = http://pypi.python.org/pypi/greenlet;
       description = "Module for lightweight in-process concurrent programming";