diff --git a/java/base.go b/java/base.go
index 656a080..bcb7226 100644
--- a/java/base.go
+++ b/java/base.go
@@ -893,7 +893,7 @@
 
 	epEnabled := j.properties.Errorprone.Enabled
 	if (ctx.Config().RunErrorProne() && epEnabled == nil) || Bool(epEnabled) {
-		if config.ErrorProneClasspath == nil && ctx.Config().TestProductVariables == nil {
+		if config.ErrorProneClasspath == nil && !ctx.Config().RunningInsideUnitTest() {
 			ctx.ModuleErrorf("cannot build with Error Prone, missing external/error_prone?")
 		}