diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/sqlalchemy/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/sqlalchemy/default.nix
index 9ac9c689632..9b71cb8eff9 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/sqlalchemy/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/sqlalchemy/default.nix
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 , mock
 , pysqlite
 , pytestCheckHook
+, pytest_xdist
 }:
 
 buildPythonPackage rec {
@@ -15,9 +16,12 @@ buildPythonPackage rec {
 
   checkInputs = [
     pytestCheckHook
+    pytest_xdist
     mock
   ] ++ lib.optional (!isPy3k) pysqlite;
 
+  pytestFlagsArray = [ "-n auto" ];
+
   postInstall = ''
     sed -e 's:--max-worker-restart=5::g' -i setup.cfg
   '';