diff --git a/doc/languages-frameworks/python.section.md b/doc/languages-frameworks/python.section.md
index 23db76baad970..30a53f5bb6d8b 100644
--- a/doc/languages-frameworks/python.section.md
+++ b/doc/languages-frameworks/python.section.md
@@ -1285,6 +1285,7 @@ Adding `pytest` is not required, since it is included with `pytestCheckHook`.
 `enabledTestPaths` and `disabledTestPaths`
 
 :   To specify path globs (files or directories) or test items.
+    `enabledTestPaths` defaults to `[ "." ]`.
 
 `enabledTests` and `disabledTests`
 
diff --git a/doc/release-notes/rl-2511.section.md b/doc/release-notes/rl-2511.section.md
index 145185bdf26ed..b463db47606a8 100644
--- a/doc/release-notes/rl-2511.section.md
+++ b/doc/release-notes/rl-2511.section.md
@@ -18,6 +18,12 @@
 
 - The minimum version of Nix required to evaluate Nixpkgs has been raised from 2.3 to 2.18.
 
+- `buildPythonPackage` and `buildPythonApplication` now set `enabledTestPaths = [ "." ]` by default if not specified otherwise, and require the specified value to be a non-empty list to simplify overriding.
+
+  When running install-checks with `pytestCheckHook`, such default value resembles `pytest`'s default behaviour of discovering tests in the current working directory.
+
+  To support both version of Nixpkgs before and after this change, set `enabledTestPaths = [ "." ]` manually for packages that don't need custom `enabledTestPaths` specification.
+
 - The `offrss` package was removed due to lack of upstream maintenance since 2012. It's recommended for users to migrate to another RSS reader
 
 - `base16-builder` node package has been removed due to lack of upstream maintenance.
diff --git a/pkgs/development/interpreters/python/mk-python-derivation.nix b/pkgs/development/interpreters/python/mk-python-derivation.nix
index 9d392bfcb95ae..4ae97d06b2767 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/interpreters/python/mk-python-derivation.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/interpreters/python/mk-python-derivation.nix
@@ -431,6 +431,17 @@ let
       # Longer-term we should get rid of `checkPhase` and use `installCheckPhase`.
       installCheckPhase = attrs.checkPhase;
     }
+    // {
+      # `pytest` defaults to discover tests in the current directory if no paths or test items are specified.
+      # Provide an explicit default value to simplify overriding.
+      enabledTestPaths =
+        if attrs ? enabledTestPaths then
+          lib.throwIf (!lib.isList attrs.enabledTestPaths || attrs.enabledTestPaths == [ ])
+            "${lib.getName finalAttrs}: enabledTestPaths must be a non-empty list (default to [ \".\" ])."
+            attrs.enabledTestPaths
+        else
+          [ "." ];
+    }
     //
       lib.mapAttrs
         (
@@ -442,7 +453,6 @@ let
         (
           getOptionalAttrs [
             "enabledTestMarks"
-            "enabledTestPaths"
             "enabledTests"
           ] attrs
         )