diff --git a/debian/rules b/debian/rules
index 2497ef8..fee7030 100755
--- a/debian/rules
+++ b/debian/rules
@@ -1,8 +1,15 @@
 #!/usr/bin/make -f
 
+DEB_BUILD_ARCH ?= $(shell dpkg-architecture -qDEB_BUILD_ARCH)
+
 %:
 	dh ${@}
 
+ifeq ($(DEB_BUILD_ARCH),sparc)
+override_dh_auto_test:
+	# disabled, see #608642 for more information
+endif
+
 override_dh_auto_install:
 	dh_auto_install -- DESTDIR=$(CURDIR)/debian/plzip