diff --git a/mongodb.spec b/mongodb.spec
index 41e790d..7524a24 100644
--- a/mongodb.spec
+++ b/mongodb.spec
@@ -363,6 +363,8 @@ done < ./build/unittests.txt
 
 
 %check
+# workaround for https://github.com/gperftools/gperftools/issues/917
+export HEAPCHECK=
 %if %runselftest
 # More info about testing:
 # http://www.mongodb.org/about/contributors/tutorial/test-the-mongodb-server/