diff --git a/n/numpy/numpy-1.12.1-intel-2017a-Python-2.7.11.eb b/n/numpy/numpy-1.12.1-intel-2017a-Python-2.7.11.eb
index 283c7247..d058bfae 100644
--- a/n/numpy/numpy-1.12.1-intel-2017a-Python-2.7.11.eb
+++ b/n/numpy/numpy-1.12.1-intel-2017a-Python-2.7.11.eb
@@ -22,13 +22,7 @@ dependencies = [
     ('Python', '2.7.11'),
 ]
 
-# need to use pip rather than regular 'setup.py install,'
-# to ensure that this numpy wins over the one in the Python installation;
-# using easy_install does not work...
-use_pip = True
-
-# install as zipped egg to get a .pth file in lib/python*/site-packages;
-# this enables shadowing of the numpy that is part of the Python installation
-zipped_egg = True
+# check that numpy is present in python and in proper version
+sanity_check_commands = [('python', '-c "import numpy; assert(numpy.__version__ == \'%(version)s\')"')]
 
 moduleclass = 'math'