diff --git a/gnome-extra/vvmplayer/files/vvmplayer-1.4-skip-appstream-validation.patch b/gnome-extra/vvmplayer/files/vvmplayer-1.4-skip-appstream-validation.patch
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6bea95da4f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gnome-extra/vvmplayer/files/vvmplayer-1.4-skip-appstream-validation.patch
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+https://bugs.gentoo.org/947003
+Requires network access.
+--- a/data/metainfo/meson.build
++++ b/data/metainfo/meson.build
+@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ if not get_option('network_tests')
+ endif
+ appstream_args += ['validate-relax', appstream_file]
+ 
+-if appstream_util.found()
++if false
+   test('Validate appstream file', appstream_util,
+        args: appstream_args)
+ endif
diff --git a/gnome-extra/vvmplayer/vvmplayer-1.4-r1.ebuild b/gnome-extra/vvmplayer/vvmplayer-1.4-r1.ebuild
index 349cdba012..9aeb494007 100644
--- a/gnome-extra/vvmplayer/vvmplayer-1.4-r1.ebuild
+++ b/gnome-extra/vvmplayer/vvmplayer-1.4-r1.ebuild
@@ -25,6 +25,11 @@ RDEPEND="
 "
 DEPEND="${RDEPEND}"
 
+PATCHES=(
+	# requires network access
+	"${FILESDIR}/${P}-skip-appstream-validation.patch"
+)
+
 pkg_postinst() {
 	xdg_pkg_postinst
 	gnome2_schemas_update