diff --git a/xbps-src b/xbps-src
index 992de6de05a..5d6cbb75022 100755
--- a/xbps-src
+++ b/xbps-src
@@ -707,6 +707,9 @@ case "$XBPS_TARGET" in
         fi
         ;;
     fetch|extract|build|check|configure|install|pkg)
+        if [ "$XBPS_TARGET" = "check" ]; then
+            export XBPS_CHECK_PKGS=1
+        fi
         read_pkg
         if [ -n "$CHROOT_READY" -a -z "$IN_CHROOT" ]; then
             chroot_handler $XBPS_TARGET $XBPS_TARGET_PKG