--- a/lib/Makefile.in
+++ b/lib/Makefile.in
@@ -296,6 +296,7 @@
 	rm -f Makefile
 
 test check: test-localdir test-subdirs
+test-subdirs: test-localdir
 
 @LITEONLY_TRUE@test-localdir: $(TESTLITELIB).la $(SAMPLES)
 @LITEONLY_FALSE@test-localdir: $(TESTLIB).la $(TESTLITELIB).la $(SAMPLES)