diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/pcre/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/pcre/default.nix
index b6813070cec..a8a89a4569c 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/pcre/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/pcre/default.nix
@@ -18,7 +18,9 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     ${if !cplusplusSupport then "--disable-cpp" else ""}
   '' + stdenv.lib.optionalString stdenv.isDarwin "CXXFLAGS=-O0";
 
-  doCheck = !stdenv.isCygwin;                   # XXX: test failure on Cygwin
+  doCheck = with stdenv; !(isCygwin || isFreeBSD);
+    # XXX: test failure on Cygwin
+    # we are running out of stack on both freeBSDs on Hydra
 
   meta = {
     homepage = "http://www.pcre.org/";