diff --git a/dev-python/scikit-build/scikit-build-0.18.1.ebuild b/dev-python/scikit-build/scikit-build-0.18.1.ebuild
index 1d6982e043669..78907c3c3d29e 100644
--- a/dev-python/scikit-build/scikit-build-0.18.1.ebuild
+++ b/dev-python/scikit-build/scikit-build-0.18.1.ebuild
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ src_prepare() {
 }
 
 python_test() {
+
 	local EPYTEST_DESELECT=(
 		# Internet (via new setuptools?)
 		tests/test_hello_cpp.py::test_hello_develop
@@ -70,9 +71,12 @@ python_test() {
 			;;
 	esac
 
+	# create a separate test tree since skbuild tests install random stuff
+	cp -r "${BUILD_DIR}"/{install,test} || die
+	local -x PATH=${BUILD_DIR}/test${EPREFIX}/usr/bin:${PATH}
+
 	local -x PYTEST_DISABLE_PLUGIN_AUTOLOAD=1
 	epytest -p pytest_mock \
 		-m "not isolated and not nosetuptoolsscm" \
 		-o tmp_path_retention_count=1
-	rm -r "${BUILD_DIR}/install$(python_get_sitedir)"/{easy-install.pth,*.egg,*.egg-link} || die
 }