diff --git a/dev-lang/python/python3-3.6.3.recipe b/dev-lang/python/python3-3.6.3.recipe
index 3a73fc0bd..e3cae8489 100644
--- a/dev-lang/python/python3-3.6.3.recipe
+++ b/dev-lang/python/python3-3.6.3.recipe
@@ -99,6 +99,7 @@ BUILD()
 	libtoolize --force --copy --install
 	aclocal
 	autoconf
+	export OPT=""
 	runConfigure --omit-dirs binDir,includeDir ./configure \
 		--enable-shared --without-ensurepip \
 		--with-system-expat --bindir=$commandBinDir --includedir=$developDir/headers
@@ -130,6 +131,14 @@ INSTALL()
 
 	mkdir -p $prefix/non-packaged/lib/python3.6
 	mv $prefix/lib/python3.6/site-packages $prefix/non-packaged/lib/python3.6/
+
+	# drop testsuite altogether; move to a separate package if needed
+	cd $prefix/lib/python3.6
+	rm -rf ctypes/test distutils/tests idlelib/idle_test lib2to3/tests \
+		sqlite3/test test tkinter/test unittest/test
+
+	# TODO: drop __pycache__ folders as well?
+	find . -name __pycache__ | xargs rm -rf
 }
 
 TEST()