diff --git a/tests/Makefile.include b/tests/Makefile.include
index 5aca98e60c..4037490b69 100644
--- a/tests/Makefile.include
+++ b/tests/Makefile.include
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ QEMU_IOTESTS_HELPERS-$(CONFIG_LINUX) = tests/qemu-iotests/socket_scm_helper$(EXE
 check: check-block
 check-block: $(SRC_PATH)/tests/check-block.sh qemu-img$(EXESUF) \
 		qemu-io$(EXESUF) qemu-nbd$(EXESUF) $(QEMU_IOTESTS_HELPERS-y) \
-		$(patsubst %-softmmu,qemu-system-%,$(filter %-softmmu,$(TARGET_DIRS)))
+		$(filter qemu-system-%, $(ninja-targets-c_LINKER) $(ninja-targets-cpp_LINKER))
 	@$<
 endif