diff --git a/biology/py-ete3/Makefile b/biology/py-ete3/Makefile
index 6451a97d0f66..4cbb74719c54 100644
--- a/biology/py-ete3/Makefile
+++ b/biology/py-ete3/Makefile
@@ -1,27 +1,28 @@
 PORTNAME=	ete3
 DISTVERSION=	3.1.2
 PORTREVISION=	5
 CATEGORIES=	biology python
 MASTER_SITES=	CHEESESHOP
 PKGNAMEPREFIX=	${PYTHON_PKGNAMEPREFIX}
 
 MAINTAINER=	yuri@FreeBSD.org
 COMMENT=	Framework for the analysis and visualization of trees
 
 LICENSE=	GPLv3
 LICENSE_FILE=	${WRKSRC}/LICENSE
 
 PY_DEPENDS=	${PYNUMPY} \
 		${PYTHON_PKGNAMEPREFIX}lxml>0:devel/py-lxml@${PY_FLAVOR} \
 		${PYTHON_PKGNAMEPREFIX}six>0:devel/py-six@${PY_FLAVOR}
 BUILD_DEPENDS=	${PY_DEPENDS}
 RUN_DEPENDS=	${PY_DEPENDS}
 
 USES=		python:3.5+ pyqt:5 shebangfix
-SHEBANG_GLOB=	*.py
-USE_PYTHON=	distutils concurrent autoplist
+USE_PYTHON=	distutils concurrent autoplist pytest # some tests fail, see https://github.com/etetoolkit/ete/issues/643
 USE_PYQT=	pyqt5
 
+SHEBANG_GLOB=	*.py
+
 NO_ARCH=	yes
 
 .include <bsd.port.mk>