diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 74bb4be..10b7cda 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -331,6 +331,8 @@ tar:
 	rm -rf /tmp/$(TCC-VERSION)
 
 # in tests subdir
+export LIBTCC1
+
 %est:
 	$(MAKE) -C tests $@
 
diff --git a/tests/Makefile b/tests/Makefile
index d1c732a..36dd5fc 100644
--- a/tests/Makefile
+++ b/tests/Makefile
@@ -31,7 +31,11 @@ test1 test2 test3 test4 btest speedtest asmtest weaktest : ../tcc
 	$(MAKE) -C .. $*
 
 # libtcc test
-libtest: libtcc_test$(EXESUF) ../libtcc1.a
+ifdef LIBTCC1
+LIBTCC1:=$(TOP)/$(LIBTCC1)
+endif
+
+libtest: libtcc_test$(EXESUF) $(LIBTCC1)
 	@echo ------------ $@ ------------
 	./libtcc_test$(EXESUF) lib_path=..