diff --git a/cmake/modules/TestTarget.cmake b/cmake/modules/TestTarget.cmake
index 8cced2c..f647bd4 100644
--- a/cmake/modules/TestTarget.cmake
+++ b/cmake/modules/TestTarget.cmake
@@ -302,10 +302,5 @@ if (CLANG_SOURCE_BASED_COVERAGE_AVAILABLE)
     endif ()
 endif ()
 
-# add the test executable to the dependencies of the check target
-if (NOT META_TEST_TARGET_IS_MANUAL)
-    add_dependencies(check ${META_TARGET_NAME}_tests)
-endif ()
-
 set(META_HAVE_TESTS YES)
 set(TEST_CONFIG_DONE YES)
diff --git a/cmake/modules/TestUtilities.cmake b/cmake/modules/TestUtilities.cmake
index 1862a77..50e465a 100644
--- a/cmake/modules/TestUtilities.cmake
+++ b/cmake/modules/TestUtilities.cmake
@@ -64,4 +64,9 @@ function (configure_test_target)
     if (NOT ARGS_MANUAL)
         add_test(NAME "${ARGS_TARGET_NAME}_run_${ARGS_TEST_NAME}" COMMAND "${TEST_TARGET_NAME}" ${RUN_ARGS})
     endif ()
+
+    # add the test executable to the dependencies of the check target
+    if (NOT ARGS_MANUAL AND TARGET check)
+        add_dependencies(check ${TEST_TARGET_NAME})
+    endif ()
 endfunction ()