diff --git a/doc/stdenv.xml b/doc/stdenv.xml
index 7154a576def..3a7b23baaa7 100644
--- a/doc/stdenv.xml
+++ b/doc/stdenv.xml
@@ -995,13 +995,14 @@ but only if the <varname>doCheck</varname> variable is enabled.</para>
 
   <varlistentry>
     <term><varname>doCheck</varname></term>
-    <listitem><para>If set to a non-empty string, the check phase is
-    executed, otherwise it is skipped (default).  Thus you should set
-
-    <programlisting>
-doCheck = true;</programlisting>
-
-    in the derivation to enable checks.</para></listitem>
+    <listitem><para>
+      Controls whether the check phase is executed.
+      By default it is skipped, but if <varname>doCheck</varname> is set to true, the check phase is usually executed.
+      Thus you should set <programlisting>doCheck = true;</programlisting> in the derivation to enable checks.
+      The exception is cross compilation.
+      Cross compiled builds never run tests, no matter how <varname>doCheck</varname> is set,
+      as the newly-built program won't run on the platform used to build it.
+    </para></listitem>
   </varlistentry>
 
   <varlistentry>
@@ -1280,12 +1281,14 @@ installcheck</command>.</para>
 
   <varlistentry>
     <term><varname>doInstallCheck</varname></term>
-    <listitem><para>If set to a non-empty string, the installCheck phase is
-    executed, otherwise it is skipped (default).  Thus you should set
-
-    <programlisting>doInstallCheck = true;</programlisting>
-
-    in the derivation to enable install checks.</para></listitem>
+    <listitem><para>
+      Controls whether the installCheck phase is executed.
+      By default it is skipped, but if <varname>doInstallCheck</varname> is set to true, the installCheck phase is usually executed.
+      Thus you should set <programlisting>doInstallCheck = true;</programlisting> in the derivation to enable install checks.
+      The exception is cross compilation.
+      Cross compiled builds never run tests, no matter how <varname>doInstallCheck</varname> is set,
+      as the newly-built program won't run on the platform used to build it.
+    </para></listitem>
   </varlistentry>
 
   <varlistentry>
diff --git a/pkgs/stdenv/generic/make-derivation.nix b/pkgs/stdenv/generic/make-derivation.nix
index 2d702ab389e..3ffa7cfe35f 100644
--- a/pkgs/stdenv/generic/make-derivation.nix
+++ b/pkgs/stdenv/generic/make-derivation.nix
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ rec {
     , depsTargetTarget            ? [] #  1 ->  1
     , depsTargetTargetPropagated  ? [] #  1 ->  1
 
+    # Configure Phase
     , configureFlags ? []
     , # Target is not included by default because most programs don't care.
       # Including it then would cause needless mass rebuilds.
@@ -44,6 +45,13 @@ rec {
       configurePlatforms ? lib.optionals
         (stdenv.hostPlatform != stdenv.buildPlatform)
         [ "build" "host" ]
+
+    # Check phase
+    , doCheck ? false
+
+    # InstallCheck phase
+    , doInstallCheck ? false
+
     , crossConfig ? null
     , meta ? {}
     , passthru ? {}
@@ -60,6 +68,7 @@ rec {
 
     , hardeningEnable ? []
     , hardeningDisable ? []
+
     , ... } @ attrs:
 
     # TODO(@Ericson2314): Make this more modular, and not O(n^2).
@@ -178,9 +187,15 @@ rec {
             "/bin/sh"
           ];
           __propagatedImpureHostDeps = computedPropagatedImpureHostDeps ++ __propagatedImpureHostDeps;
-        } // (if outputs' != [ "out" ] then {
+        } // lib.optionalAttrs (outputs' != [ "out" ]) {
           outputs = outputs';
-        } else { }));
+        } // lib.optionalAttrs (attrs ? doCheck) {
+          # TODO(@Ericson2314): Make unconditional / resolve #33599
+          doCheck = doCheck && (stdenv.hostPlatform == stdenv.targetPlatform);
+        } // lib.optionalAttrs (attrs ? doInstallCheck) {
+          # TODO(@Ericson2314): Make unconditional / resolve #33599
+          doInstallCheck = doInstallCheck && (stdenv.hostPlatform == stdenv.targetPlatform);
+        });
 
       # The meta attribute is passed in the resulting attribute set,
       # but it's not part of the actual derivation, i.e., it's not