diff --git a/gnu/packages/python-xyz.scm b/gnu/packages/python-xyz.scm
index 4ceb1c4c91..b160996756 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/python-xyz.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/python-xyz.scm
@@ -20748,6 +20748,8 @@ (define-public python-identify
     (arguments
      `(#:phases
        (modify-phases %standard-phases
+         ;; system-error "utime" "~A" ("No such file or directory")
+         (delete 'ensure-no-mtimes-pre-1980)
          (replace 'check
            (lambda _
              (invoke "pytest" "-vv"))))))