diff --git a/runner/meson.build b/runner/meson.build
index dadfc75f0ca786a1231b304855c37000f2671f0e..c62303ce35c5cc74a2caa0e0159bb601b8695730 100644
--- a/runner/meson.build
+++ b/runner/meson.build
@@ -24,11 +24,7 @@ if liboping.found()
 	runner_c_args += '-DHAVE_OPING=1'
 endif
 
-if not build_tests and jsonc.found()
-	error('Building test runner requires building tests')
-endif
-
-if jsonc.found()
+if jsonc.found() and build_tests
 	subdir('testdata')
 
 	runnerlib = static_library('igt_runner', runnerlib_sources,