diff --git a/xbps-src b/xbps-src
index e2ecbf36e4f..9d88873ab2c 100755
--- a/xbps-src
+++ b/xbps-src
@@ -781,8 +781,8 @@ case "$XBPS_TARGET" in
         fi
         ;;
     fetch|extract|patch|configure|build|check|install|pkg)
-        if [ "$XBPS_TARGET" = "check" ]; then
-            export XBPS_CHECK_PKGS=1
+        if [ "$XBPS_TARGET" = "check" ] && [ -z "$XBPS_CHECK_PKGS" ]; then
+            export XBPS_CHECK_PKGS=full
         fi
         read_pkg
         if [ -n "$CHROOT_READY" -a -z "$IN_CHROOT" ]; then