diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index d29d830f6..b73c990a3 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -49,8 +49,8 @@ clean:
 	cd programs && $(MAKE) clean && cd ..
 	cd tests    && $(MAKE) clean && cd ..
 
-check:
-	( cd tests && $(MAKE) check )
+check: lib
+	( cd tests && $(MAKE) && $(MAKE) check )
 
 apidoc:
 	mkdir -p apidoc