diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index b7488add..20c760e2 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ clobber:
 
 distclean: clobber
 
-check:
+check: all
 	cd testsuite && $(MAKE) && $(MAKE) alltests
 
 cscope: