diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/setuptools/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/setuptools/default.nix
index 4c719e7dc42..bd1cb756f27 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/setuptools/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/setuptools/default.nix
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
       wrapPythonPrograms
     '';
 
+  # tests fail on darwin, see http://bitbucket.org/pypa/setuptools/issue/55/1-failure-lc_all-c-python33m-setuppy-test 
   doCheck = (!stdenv.isDarwin);
 
   checkPhase = ''