diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/xapian/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/xapian/default.nix
index ef50bf31a36..a6500f97aac 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/xapian/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/xapian/default.nix
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ let
     nativeBuildInputs = [ autoreconfHook ];
 
     doCheck = true;
+    AUTOMATED_TESTING = true; # https://trac.xapian.org/changeset/8be35f5e1/git
 
     patches = stdenv.lib.optionals stdenv.isDarwin [ ./skip-flaky-darwin-test.patch ];