diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index cf211c0b..55994a30 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -60,3 +60,6 @@ install-data-local:
 
 uninstall-local:
 	rmdir $(DESTDIR)/${EXTERNAL_LUKS2_TOKENS_PATH} 2>/dev/null || :
+
+check-programs: libcryptsetup.la
+	$(MAKE) -C tests $@
diff --git a/tests/Makefile.am b/tests/Makefile.am
index 516290b9..c24fc451 100644
--- a/tests/Makefile.am
+++ b/tests/Makefile.am
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ all_symbols_test_CPPFLAGS = $(AM_CPPFLAGS) -D_GNU_SOURCE
 
 check_PROGRAMS = api-test api-test-2 differ vectors-test unit-utils-io all-symbols-test
 
-check-programs: $(check_PROGRAMS) fake_token_path.so
+check-programs: test-symbols-list.h $(check_PROGRAMS) fake_token_path.so
 
 conversion_imgs:
 	@tar xJf conversion_imgs.tar.xz