diff --git a/tests/Makefile.am b/tests/Makefile.am
index 2d861ccc..da8b2689 100644
--- a/tests/Makefile.am
+++ b/tests/Makefile.am
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ check-full:
 #check_SCRIPTS = tar
 
 # Run the test suite on the *installed* tree.
-installcheck-local:
+installcheck-local: $(check_PROGRAMS)
 	$(SHELL) $(TESTSUITE) $(TESTSUITEFLAGS) AUTOTEST_PATH=$(exec_prefix)/bin