diff --git a/src/makefile.mingw b/src/makefile.mingw
index 55c5b7e38..9bbd73936 100644
--- a/src/makefile.mingw
+++ b/src/makefile.mingw
@@ -83,6 +83,9 @@ OBJS= \
 
 all: bitcoind.exe
 
+test check: test_bitcoin.exe FORCE
+	test_bitcoin.exe
+
 obj/%.o: %.cpp $(HEADERS)
 	g++ -c $(CFLAGS) -o $@ $<
 
@@ -102,3 +105,5 @@ clean:
 	-del /Q obj\*
 	-del /Q obj-test\*
 	-del /Q build.h
+
+FORCE:
diff --git a/src/makefile.osx b/src/makefile.osx
index 2666caa91..547f751ab 100644
--- a/src/makefile.osx
+++ b/src/makefile.osx
@@ -116,6 +116,9 @@ endif
 
 all: bitcoind
 
+test check: test_bitcoin FORCE
+	./test_bitcoin
+
 # auto-generated dependencies:
 -include obj/*.P
 -include obj-test/*.P
diff --git a/src/makefile.unix b/src/makefile.unix
index 37a191797..6f8f96e3a 100644
--- a/src/makefile.unix
+++ b/src/makefile.unix
@@ -132,6 +132,9 @@ OBJS= \
 
 all: bitcoind
 
+test check: test_bitcoin FORCE
+	./test_bitcoin
+
 # auto-generated dependencies:
 -include obj/*.P
 -include obj-test/*.P