diff --git a/ghc-base-orphans.spec b/ghc-base-orphans.spec
index af6b816..7f54dac 100644
--- a/ghc-base-orphans.spec
+++ b/ghc-base-orphans.spec
@@ -4,7 +4,9 @@
 %global pkg_name base-orphans
 %global pkgver %{pkg_name}-%{version}
 
-%bcond_without tests
+# disabled to avoid circular dependency with hspec:
+# hspec -> hspec-core -> tf-random -> primitive(tests) -> base-orphans(tests) -> hspec
+%bcond_with tests
 
 Name:           ghc-%{pkg_name}
 Version:        0.8.2