diff --git a/gnu/packages/check.scm b/gnu/packages/check.scm
index 367f87e2e2..41b0c88ef9 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/check.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/check.scm
@@ -99,6 +99,19 @@ faults or other signals.  The output from unit tests can be used within
 source code editors and IDEs.")
     (license license:lgpl2.1+)))
 
+;; Some packages require this older version.  Removed once no longer needed.
+(define-public check-0.12
+  (package/inherit
+   check
+   (version "0.12.0")
+   (source (origin
+             (method url-fetch)
+             (uri (string-append "https://github.com/libcheck/check/releases"
+                                 "/download/" version "/check-" version ".tar.gz"))
+             (sha256
+              (base32
+               "0d22h8xshmbpl9hba9ch3xj8vb9ybm5akpsbbh7yj07fic4h2hj6"))))))
+
 (define-public cunit
   (package
     (name "cunit")
diff --git a/gnu/packages/messaging.scm b/gnu/packages/messaging.scm
index b524388853..148a291396 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/messaging.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/messaging.scm
@@ -182,7 +182,8 @@ end-to-end encryption.")
                (base32 "0sgsn0fv41rga46mih3fyv65cvfa6rvki8x92dn7bczbi7yxfdln"))))
     (build-system gnu-build-system)
     (native-inputs `(("pkg-config" ,pkg-config)
-                     ("check" ,check)))
+                     ;; Note: Change to 'check' for versions > 3.6.
+                     ("check" ,check-0.12)))
     (inputs `(("glib" ,glib)
               ("libotr" ,libotr)
               ("gnutls" ,gnutls)