diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/scipy/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/scipy/default.nix
index 457a9c622a12..9091563bb4e8 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/scipy/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/scipy/default.nix
@@ -75,6 +75,8 @@ buildPythonPackage rec {
     runHook postCheck
   '';
 
+  requiredSystemFeatures = [ "big-parallel" ]; # the tests need lots of CPU time
+
   passthru = {
     blas = numpy.blas;
   };