diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/descartes/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/descartes/default.nix
index b10526ff0fd..a4df1fe20c9 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/descartes/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/descartes/default.nix
@@ -21,5 +21,7 @@ buildPythonPackage rec {
     homepage = "https://bitbucket.org/sgillies/descartes/";
     license = licenses.bsd3;
     maintainers = with maintainers; [ knedlsepp ];
+    # all tests are failing
+    broken = true;
   };
 }