diff --git a/cmd/ipfs/Rules.mk b/cmd/ipfs/Rules.mk
index a42b12a92..360a66fb6 100644
--- a/cmd/ipfs/Rules.mk
+++ b/cmd/ipfs/Rules.mk
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ include mk/header.mk
 IPFS_BIN_$(d) := $(call go-curr-pkg-tgt)
 
 TGT_BIN += $(IPFS_BIN_$(d))
-TEST += $(d)-try-build
+TEST_GO_BUILD += $(d)-try-build
 CLEAN += $(IPFS_BIN_$(d))
 
 PATH := $(realpath $(d)):$(PATH)
diff --git a/mk/golang.mk b/mk/golang.mk
index 82158e507..5a08d0e58 100644
--- a/mk/golang.mk
+++ b/mk/golang.mk
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ GOTFLAGS ?=
 
 DEPS_GO :=
 TEST_GO :=
+TEST_GO_BUILD :=
 CHECK_GO :=
 
 go-pkg-name=$(shell $(GOCC) list $(go-tags) github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/$(1))
@@ -35,7 +36,7 @@ test_go_race: GOTFLAGS += -race
 test_go_race: test_go_expensive
 .PHONY: test_go_race
 
-test_go_expensive: $$(DEPS_GO)
+test_go_expensive: $$(TEST_GO_BUILD) $$(DEPS_GO)
 	$(GOCC) test $(go-flags-with-tags) $(GOTFLAGS) ./...
 .PHONY: test_go_expensive
 TEST_GO += test_go_expensive