diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index b98e7e374..6c0a24b8f 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -397,13 +397,6 @@ else()
   message(STATUS "hyprpm is enabled (NO_HYPRPM not defined)")
 endif()
 
-if(NO_TESTS)
-  message(STATUS "building tests is disabled")
-else()
-  message(STATUS "building tests is enabled (NO_TESTS not defined)")
-  add_subdirectory(hyprtester)
-endif()
-
 # binary and symlink
 install(TARGETS Hyprland)
 
@@ -461,6 +454,8 @@ install(
   PATTERN "*.inc")
 
 if(TESTS)
+  message(STATUS "building tests is enabled TESTS")
+
   enable_testing()
   add_custom_target(tests)
 
@@ -471,4 +466,6 @@ if(TESTS)
     COMMAND hyprtester)
 
   add_dependencies(tests hyprtester)
+else()
+  message(STATUS "building tests is disabled")
 endif()