diff --git a/tests/Makefile.am b/tests/Makefile.am
index cdd6e45c9..60c601faf 100644
--- a/tests/Makefile.am
+++ b/tests/Makefile.am
@@ -465,9 +465,11 @@ TARGETS += check-octave
 TEXTOUT += run_test_octave_output.txt
 endif
 
-check-local: $(TARGETS) $(TEXTOUT)
+check-local: $(TEXTOUT)
 	@cat $(TEXTOUT)
 
+$(TEXTOUT): $(TARGETS)
+
 check-matlab: $(M_XFAIL_TRS_FILES) $(M_TRS_FILES)
 	./read_trs_files.sh "$(M_TRS_FILES)" "$(M_XFAIL_TRS_FILES)"
 	@echo 'Matlab Tests Done'