diff --git a/dpdkbuild/Makefile b/dpdkbuild/Makefile
index 3229f39ac..0cb2fa27d 100644
--- a/dpdkbuild/Makefile
+++ b/dpdkbuild/Makefile
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ include $(SPDK_ROOT_DIR)/mk/spdk.common.mk
 .PHONY: all clean install uninstall
 
 DPDK_OPTS = -Denable_docs=false
+DPDK_OPTS += -Dtests=false
 DPDK_CFLAGS =
 
 DPDK_KMODS = false