diff --git a/pkgs/applications/editors/kdevelop5/kdev-php.nix b/pkgs/applications/editors/kdevelop5/kdev-php.nix
index 532bb99e7d8..ea0514066e9 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/editors/kdevelop5/kdev-php.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/editors/kdevelop5/kdev-php.nix
@@ -12,10 +12,6 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     sha256 = "1xiz4v6w30dsa7l4nk3jw3hxpkx71b0yaaj2k8s7xzgjif824bgl";
   };
 
-  cmakeFlags = [
-    "-DBUILD_TESTING=OFF"
-  ];
-
   nativeBuildInputs = [ cmake extra-cmake-modules ];
   buildInputs = [ kdevelop-pg-qt threadweaver ktexteditor kdevelop-unwrapped ];
 
diff --git a/pkgs/applications/editors/kdevelop5/kdev-python.nix b/pkgs/applications/editors/kdevelop5/kdev-python.nix
index be27e10f42a..1c311539dd7 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/editors/kdevelop5/kdev-python.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/editors/kdevelop5/kdev-python.nix
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
   };
 
   cmakeFlags = [
-    "-DBUILD_TESTING=OFF"
     "-DPYTHON_EXECUTABLE=${python}/bin/python"
   ];
 
diff --git a/pkgs/applications/graphics/seg3d/default.nix b/pkgs/applications/graphics/seg3d/default.nix
index bca88cc7013..58cec2ec170 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/graphics/seg3d/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/graphics/seg3d/default.nix
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation {
     "-DBUILD_BIOMESH3D=1"
     "-DWITH_TETGEN=1"
     "-DBUILD_TYPE=Release"
-    "-DBUILD_TESTING=0"
     "-DWITH_WXWIDGETS=ON"
     "-DITK_DIR=${itk}/lib/InsightToolkit"
     "-DGDCM_LIBRARY=${itk}/lib/libitkgdcm.a"
diff --git a/pkgs/applications/science/biology/ants/default.nix b/pkgs/applications/science/biology/ants/default.nix
index f54bd9af028..d1a990a5eb2 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/science/biology/ants/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/science/biology/ants/default.nix
@@ -15,9 +15,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
   nativeBuildInputs = [ cmake makeWrapper ];
   buildInputs = [ itk vtk ];
 
-  cmakeFlags = [ "-DANTS_SUPERBUILD=FALSE" "-DUSE_VTK=TRUE"
-                 # as cmake otherwise tries to download test data:
-                 "-DBUILD_TESTING=FALSE" ];
+  cmakeFlags = [ "-DANTS_SUPERBUILD=FALSE" "-DUSE_VTK=TRUE" ];
 
   enableParallelBuilding = true;
 
diff --git a/pkgs/applications/science/biology/mni_autoreg/default.nix b/pkgs/applications/science/biology/mni_autoreg/default.nix
index 5901b696d64..ab22fb7232f 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/science/biology/mni_autoreg/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/science/biology/mni_autoreg/default.nix
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
   buildInputs = [ libminc ];
   propagatedBuildInputs = with perlPackages; [ perl GetoptTabular MNI-Perllib ];
 
-  cmakeFlags = [ "-DLIBMINC_DIR=${libminc}/lib/" "-DBUILD_TESTING=FALSE" ];
+  cmakeFlags = [ "-DLIBMINC_DIR=${libminc}/lib/" ];
   # testing broken: './minc_wrapper: Permission denied' from Testing/ellipse0.mnc
 
   postFixup = ''
@@ -33,4 +33,3 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     license = licenses.free;
   };
 }
-
diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/arguments/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/arguments/default.nix
index ebef604e1be..cb0c65e97e3 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/arguments/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/arguments/default.nix
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
   nativeBuildInputs = [ cmake ];
   buildInputs = [ ];
 
-  #cmakeFlags = [ "-DLIBMINC_DIR=${libminc}/lib" "-DBICPL_DIR=${bicpl}/lib" "-DBUILD_TESTING=FALSE" ];
+  #cmakeFlags = [ "-DLIBMINC_DIR=${libminc}/lib" "-DBICPL_DIR=${bicpl}/lib" ];
 
   doCheck = false;
   # internal_volume_io.h: No such file or directory
diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/catch2/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/catch2/default.nix
index 54f1c459212..ffe027c8961 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/catch2/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/catch2/default.nix
@@ -13,9 +13,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
 
   nativeBuildInputs = [ cmake ];
 
-  cmakeFlags = [
-    "-H.."
-    "-DBUILD_TESTING=OFF"];
+  cmakeFlags = [ "-H.." ];
 
   meta = with stdenv.lib; {
     description = "A multi-paradigm automated test framework for C++ and Objective-C (and, maybe, C)";
diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/google-gflags/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/google-gflags/default.nix
index a6f062b8126..fefc3a8b4b8 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/google-gflags/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/google-gflags/default.nix
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
   cmakeFlags = [
     "-DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=ON"
     "-DBUILD_STATIC_LIBS=ON"
-    "-DBUILD_TESTING=${if doCheck then "ON" else "OFF"}"
   ];
 
   doCheck = false;
diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/itk/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/itk/default.nix
index df016d9fcac..878c8221542 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/itk/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/itk/default.nix
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
   };
 
   cmakeFlags = [
-    "-DBUILD_TESTING=OFF"
     "-DBUILD_EXAMPLES=OFF"
     "-DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=ON"
     "-DModule_ITKMINC=ON"
diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/libminc/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/libminc/default.nix
index 1e13f323822..aea7a5959fa 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/libminc/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/libminc/default.nix
@@ -22,13 +22,12 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
   buildInputs = [ zlib netcdf nifticlib hdf5 ];
 
   cmakeFlags = [
-    "-DBUILD_TESTING=${if doCheck then "ON" else "OFF"}"
     "-DLIBMINC_MINC1_SUPPORT=ON"
     "-DLIBMINC_BUILD_SHARED_LIBS=ON"
     "-DLIBMINC_USE_SYSTEM_NIFTI=ON"
   ];
 
-  doCheck = stdenv.buildPlatform == stdenv.hostPlatform;
+  doCheck = true;
   checkPhase = ''
     export LD_LIBRARY_PATH="$(pwd)"  # see #22060
     ctest -E 'ezminc_rw_test|minc_conversion' --output-on-failure
diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/qt-5/mkDerivation.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/qt-5/mkDerivation.nix
index 96014cfbc77..d4e2143d564 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/qt-5/mkDerivation.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/qt-5/mkDerivation.nix
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ let
     cmakeFlags =
       (args.cmakeFlags or [])
       ++ [
-        "-DBUILD_TESTING=OFF"
         ("-DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=" + (if debug then "Debug" else "Release"))
       ];
 
diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/science/biology/bicpl/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/science/biology/bicpl/default.nix
index f763e8a4fcc..0c634c0f265 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/science/biology/bicpl/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/science/biology/bicpl/default.nix
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
   nativeBuildInputs = [ cmake ];
   buildInputs = [ libminc netpbm ];
 
-  cmakeFlags = [ "-DLIBMINC_DIR=${libminc}/lib" "-DBUILD_TESTING=FALSE" ];
+  cmakeFlags = [ "-DLIBMINC_DIR=${libminc}/lib" ];
 
   doCheck = false;
   # internal_volume_io.h: No such file or directory
diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/science/biology/mirtk/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/science/biology/mirtk/default.nix
index ce2050e82e6..51beba898f6 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/science/biology/mirtk/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/science/biology/mirtk/default.nix
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     fetchSubmodules = true;
   };
 
-  cmakeFlags = "-DWITH_VTK=ON -DBUILD_ALL_MODULES=ON -DBUILD_TESTING=ON";
+  cmakeFlags = "-DWITH_VTK=ON -DBUILD_ALL_MODULES=ON";
 
   doCheck = true;
 
diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/vtk/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/vtk/default.nix
index dee363f23b6..9843b1289cf 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/vtk/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/vtk/default.nix
@@ -40,8 +40,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
   # objects.
   cmakeFlags = [ "-DCMAKE_C_FLAGS=-fPIC" "-DCMAKE_CXX_FLAGS=-fPIC" ]
     ++ optional (qtLib != null) [ "-DVTK_USE_QT:BOOL=ON" ]
-    ++ optional stdenv.isDarwin [ "-DBUILD_TESTING:BOOL=OFF"
-                                  "-DOPENGL_INCLUDE_DIR=${OpenGL}/Library/Frameworks" ];
+    ++ optional stdenv.isDarwin "-DOPENGL_INCLUDE_DIR=${OpenGL}/Library/Frameworks";
 
   postPatch = stdenv.lib.optionalString stdenv.isDarwin ''
     sed -i 's|COMMAND vtkHashSource|COMMAND "DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH=''${VTK_BINARY_DIR}/lib" ''${VTK_BINARY_DIR}/bin/vtkHashSource-7.0|' ./Parallel/Core/CMakeLists.txt
diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/vxl/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/vxl/default.nix
index 777b8bb1f40..9651e9a5f80 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/vxl/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/vxl/default.nix
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation {
   # BUILD_OUL wants old linux headers for videodev.h, not available
   # in stdenv linux headers
   # BUILD_BRL fails to find open()
-  cmakeFlags = "-DBUILD_TESTING=OFF -DBUILD_OUL=OFF -DBUILD_BRL=OFF -DBUILD_CONTRIB=OFF "
+  cmakeFlags = "-DBUILD_OUL=OFF -DBUILD_BRL=OFF -DBUILD_CONTRIB=OFF "
     + (if stdenv.hostPlatform.system == "x86_64-linux" then
       "-DCMAKE_CXX_FLAGS=-fPIC -DCMAKE_C_FLAGS=-fPIC"
     else
diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/hoomd-blue/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/hoomd-blue/default.nix
index 3463f471c5e..ad25b8977c0 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/hoomd-blue/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/hoomd-blue/default.nix
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ let components = {
      hpmc = true;
      md = true;
      metal = true;
-     testing = false;
    };
    onOffBool = b: if b then "ON" else "OFF";
    withMPI = (mpi != null);
@@ -44,7 +43,6 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
        "-DBUILD_HPMC=${onOffBool components.hpmc}"
        "-DBUILD_MD=${onOffBool components.md}"
        "-DBUILD_METAL=${onOffBool components.metal}"
-       "-DBUILD_TESTING=${onOffBool components.testing}"
   ];
 
   preConfigure = ''
diff --git a/pkgs/tools/filesystems/cryfs/default.nix b/pkgs/tools/filesystems/cryfs/default.nix
index 4e2f8eaf5c9..71e27c94dbd 100644
--- a/pkgs/tools/filesystems/cryfs/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/tools/filesystems/cryfs/default.nix
@@ -48,7 +48,6 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
   cmakeFlags = [
     "-DCRYFS_UPDATE_CHECKS=OFF"
     "-DBoost_USE_STATIC_LIBS=OFF" # this option is case sensitive
-    "-DBUILD_TESTING=ON"
   ];
 
   doCheck = true;
diff --git a/pkgs/tools/misc/hdf4/default.nix b/pkgs/tools/misc/hdf4/default.nix
index ef3839f67de..eb57cc45f6a 100644
--- a/pkgs/tools/misc/hdf4/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/tools/misc/hdf4/default.nix
@@ -42,7 +42,6 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
 
   cmakeFlags = [
     "-DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=ON"
-    "-DBUILD_TESTING=ON"
     "-DHDF4_BUILD_TOOLS=ON"
     "-DHDF4_BUILD_UTILS=ON"
     "-DHDF4_BUILD_WITH_INSTALL_NAME=OFF"
diff --git a/pkgs/tools/package-management/appimagekit/default.nix b/pkgs/tools/package-management/appimagekit/default.nix
index 2c389c144b1..b9454e64ccf 100644
--- a/pkgs/tools/package-management/appimagekit/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/tools/package-management/appimagekit/default.nix
@@ -87,7 +87,6 @@ in stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     "-DUSE_SYSTEM_LIBARCHIVE=ON"
     "-DUSE_SYSTEM_GTEST=ON"
     "-DUSE_SYSTEM_MKSQUASHFS=ON"
-    "-DBUILD_TESTING=${if doCheck then "ON" else "OFF"}"
   ];
 
   checkInputs = [ gtest ];