diff --git a/test/Makefile.in b/test/Makefile.in
index 9c61da9dde8..e7df121d0eb 100644
--- a/test/Makefile.in
+++ b/test/Makefile.in
@@ -223,9 +223,11 @@ define test_template
   ## dependencies, it is better than nothing.
   srcfile = $(patsubst %-tests,$(srcdir)/../%,$(1))$(if $(patsubst src/%,,$(patsubst lib-src/%,,$(1))),.el,.c)
   ifeq (,$(patsubst %-tests,,$(1))$(findstring -tests/,$(1)))
+  ifeq ($(shell test -e $(srcfile) && echo -n yes),yes)
     $(1).log: $(srcfile)
     $(notdir $(1).log): $(1).log
   endif
+  endif
 
   ## Short aliases that always re-run the tests, with no logging.
   ## Define both with and without the directory name for ease of use.