diff --git a/mantle/kola/harness.go b/mantle/kola/harness.go
index dfaed940d5..60599f3099 100644
--- a/mantle/kola/harness.go
+++ b/mantle/kola/harness.go
@@ -540,7 +540,7 @@ func filterTests(tests map[string]*register.Test, patterns []string, pltfrm stri
 		}
 
 		if t.RequiredTag != "" && // if the test has a required tag...
-			!tagMatch && // and that tag was not provided by the user...
+			!HasString(t.RequiredTag, positiveTags) && // and that tag was not provided by the user...
 			(!userTypedPattern || !nameMatch) { // and the user didn't request it by name...
 			continue // then skip it
 		}