diff --git a/ui/build/build.go b/ui/build/build.go
index ea86782..95d7831 100644
--- a/ui/build/build.go
+++ b/ui/build/build.go
@@ -427,6 +427,9 @@
 	if config.Checkbuild() {
 		what |= RunBuildTests
 	}
+	if value, ok := config.environ.Get("RUN_BUILD_TESTS"); ok && value == "true" {
+		what |= RunBuildTests
+	}
 	if !config.SkipConfig() {
 		what |= RunProductConfig
 	} else {