diff --git a/.github/workflows/java.yml b/.github/workflows/java.yml
index 4fc3e1ce..8e909ae9 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/java.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/java.yml
@@ -34,6 +34,9 @@ jobs:
         java-version: ${{ matrix.java-version }}
         distribution: 'adopt'
 
+    - name: Build
+      run: make -C java target/jacoco.exec
+
     - name: Run tests (serially)
       if: ${{ matrix.java-version == 21 && matrix.os == 'ubuntu-latest' }}
       run: make ja_test
diff --git a/java/Makefile b/java/Makefile
index 813a55c8..396b2d21 100644
--- a/java/Makefile
+++ b/java/Makefile
@@ -14,15 +14,18 @@ help:
 clean:
 	@$(MVN) clean || echo
 
+target/jacoco.exec: ../LICENSE
+	@$(MVN) $(MVN_FLAGS) test -Dtest.single
+
 .PHONY: test
-test: ../LICENSE
+test: target/jacoco.exec
 	@$(MVN) $(MVN_FLAGS) test -Dtest.single
 
-test_auto: ../LICENSE
+test_auto: target/jacoco.exec
 	@$(MVN) $(MVN_FLAGS) test -T 1C
 
 .PHONY: test_%
-test_%: ../LICENSE
+test_%: target/jacoco.exec
 	@$(MVN) $(MVN_FLAGS) test -T $*
 
 .PHONY: lint