diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/example-robot-data/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/example-robot-data/default.nix
index 201275fb02e..d9a107bf649 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/example-robot-data/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/example-robot-data/default.nix
@@ -33,6 +33,10 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation (finalAttrs: {
   ];
 
   doCheck = true;
+  # The package expect to find an `example-robot-data/robots` folder somewhere
+  # either in install prefix or in the sources
+  # where it can find the meshes for unit tests
+  preCheck = "ln -s source ../../${finalAttrs.pname}";
   pythonImportsCheck = [
     "example_robot_data"
   ];