diff --git a/pkgs/build-support/cabal/default.nix b/pkgs/build-support/cabal/default.nix
index 706c9caca1c..7dc58a0adfe 100644
--- a/pkgs/build-support/cabal/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/build-support/cabal/default.nix
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@
             # but often propagatedBuildInputs is preferable anyway
             buildInputs = [ghc Cabal] ++ self.extraBuildInputs;
             extraBuildInputs = self.buildTools ++
+                               (stdenv.lib.optionals (self.doCheck or false) self.testDepends) ++
                                (if self.pkgconfigDepends == [] then [] else [pkgconfig]) ++
                                (if self.isLibrary then [] else self.buildDepends ++ self.extraLibraries ++ self.pkgconfigDepends);