diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/matplotlib/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/matplotlib/default.nix
index 152330beac5..1ebba52ff6f 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/matplotlib/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/matplotlib/default.nix
@@ -12,11 +12,11 @@ assert enableGtk2 -> pygtk != null;
 
 buildPythonPackage rec {
   name = "matplotlib-${version}";
-  version = "1.5.0";
+  version = "1.5.1";
 
   src = fetchurl {
     url = "https://pypi.python.org/packages/source/m/matplotlib/${name}.tar.gz";
-    sha256 = "67b08b1650a00a6317d94b76a30a47320087e5244920604c5462188cba0c2646";
+    sha256 = "3ab8d968eac602145642d0db63dd8d67c85e9a5444ce0e2ecb2a8fedc7224d40";
   };
 
   NIX_CFLAGS_COMPILE = stdenv.lib.optionalString stdenv.isDarwin "-I${libcxx}/include/c++/v1";
@@ -37,6 +37,14 @@ buildPythonPackage rec {
 
   patches = stdenv.lib.optionals stdenv.isDarwin [ ./darwin-stdenv.patch ];
 
+  checkPhase = ''
+    ${python.interpreter} tests.py
+  '';
+
+  # The entry point for running tests, tests.py, is not included in the release.
+  # https://github.com/matplotlib/matplotlib/issues/6017
+  doCheck = false;
+
   prePatch = ''
     # Failing test: ERROR: matplotlib.tests.test_style.test_use_url
     sed -i 's/test_use_url/fails/' lib/matplotlib/tests/test_style.py
@@ -52,4 +60,5 @@ buildPythonPackage rec {
     maintainers = with maintainers; [ lovek323 ];
     platforms   = platforms.unix;
   };
+
 }
diff --git a/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix b/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix
index 56572ab7430..7ece0b5ca43 100644
--- a/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix
+++ b/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix
@@ -1804,15 +1804,24 @@ in modules // {
 
   cycler = buildPythonPackage rec {
     name = "cycler-${version}";
-    version = "0.9.0";
+    version = "0.10.0";
 
     src = pkgs.fetchurl {
       url = "https://pypi.python.org/packages/source/C/Cycler/${name}.tar.gz";
-      sha256 = "96dc4ddf27ef62c09990c6196ac1167685e89168042ec0ae4db586de023355bc";
+      sha256 = "cd7b2d1018258d7247a71425e9f26463dfb444d411c39569972f4ce586b0c9d8";
     };
 
+    buildInputs = with self; [ coverage nose ];
     propagatedBuildInputs = with self; [ six ];
 
+    checkPhase = ''
+      ${python.interpreter} run_tests.py
+    '';
+
+    # Tests were not included in release.
+    # https://github.com/matplotlib/cycler/issues/31
+    doCheck = false;
+
     meta = {
       description = "Composable style cycles";
       homepage = http://github.com/matplotlib/cycler;