diff --git a/build.zig b/build.zig
index 3c65e7a3e..f9d861b19 100644
--- a/build.zig
+++ b/build.zig
@@ -288,14 +288,16 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) !void {
             // Crash on x86_64 without this
             .use_llvm = true,
         });
+        if (config.emit_test_exe) b.installArtifact(test_exe);
+        _ = try deps.add(test_exe);
+
+        // Verify our internal libghostty header.
         const ghostty_h = b.addTranslateC(.{
             .root_source_file = b.path("include/ghostty.h"),
             .target = config.baselineTarget(),
             .optimize = .Debug,
         });
         test_exe.root_module.addImport("ghostty.h", ghostty_h.createModule());
-        if (config.emit_test_exe) b.installArtifact(test_exe);
-        _ = try deps.add(test_exe);
 
         // Normal test running
         const test_run = b.addRunArtifact(test_exe);