diff --git a/package/libdrm/libdrm.mk b/package/libdrm/libdrm.mk
index a04331c2da..e0c1217b38 100644
--- a/package/libdrm/libdrm.mk
+++ b/package/libdrm/libdrm.mk
@@ -17,8 +17,7 @@ LIBDRM_DEPENDENCIES = \
 
 LIBDRM_CONF_OPTS = \
 	-Dcairo-tests=disabled \
-	-Dman-pages=disabled \
-	-Dtests=false
+	-Dman-pages=disabled
 
 ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_LIBATOMIC_OPS),y)
 LIBDRM_DEPENDENCIES += libatomic_ops
@@ -109,10 +108,12 @@ LIBDRM_CONF_OPTS += -Dvalgrind=disabled
 endif
 
 ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_LIBDRM_INSTALL_TESTS),y)
-LIBDRM_CONF_OPTS += -Dinstall-test-programs=true
+LIBDRM_CONF_OPTS += -Dtests=true -Dinstall-test-programs=true
 ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_CUNIT),y)
 LIBDRM_DEPENDENCIES += cunit
 endif
+else
+LIBDRM_CONF_OPTS += -Dtests=false
 endif
 
 $(eval $(meson-package))