diff --git a/gnu/packages/wm.scm b/gnu/packages/wm.scm
index 25ec278e2c..e5b7ea800f 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/wm.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/wm.scm
@@ -172,8 +172,7 @@ (define-public herbstluftwm
     (arguments
      '(#:phases
        (modify-phases %standard-phases
-         (delete 'configure)
-         (delete 'check)
+         (delete 'configure)            ; no configure script
          (add-after 'install 'install-xsession
            (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
              (let* ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out"))