diff --git a/pkgs/build-support/cabal/default.nix b/pkgs/build-support/cabal/default.nix
index 38f2c4c6115..c1b8d6d5fea 100644
--- a/pkgs/build-support/cabal/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/build-support/cabal/default.nix
@@ -92,13 +92,12 @@
 
             # pass the '--enable-tests' flag to cabal in the configure stage
             # and run any regression test suites the package might have
-            doCheck = true;
+            doCheck = stdenv.lib.versionOlder "7" ghc.ghcVersion;
 
             extraConfigureFlags = [
               (stdenv.lib.enableFeature enableLibraryProfiling "library-profiling")
               (stdenv.lib.enableFeature self.enableSplitObjs "split-objs")
-              (stdenv.lib.enableFeature self.doCheck "tests")
-            ];
+            ] ++ stdenv.lib.optional (stdenv.lib.versionOlder "7" ghc.ghcVersion) (stdenv.lib.enableFeature self.doCheck "tests");
 
             # compiles Setup and configures
             configurePhase = ''