diff --git a/debian/rules b/debian/rules
index facd5920cf..c4f1b0e9e3 100755
--- a/debian/rules
+++ b/debian/rules
@@ -125,4 +125,6 @@ override_dh_installdocs:
 override_dh_auto_test:
 	# NB: not parallel - there is some race that leads to failures like:
 	# note: cc: error: x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu/test/run-pass/generic-default-type-params-cross-crate.stage2-x86_64-unknown-linux-gnulibaux/default_type_params_xc.o: No such file or directory
+ifeq (, $(filter nocheck,$(DEB_BUILD_OPTIONS)))
 	$(MAKE) check-notidy
+endif