diff --git a/guix/build-system/julia.scm b/guix/build-system/julia.scm
index 488fe9bb1d..d3cb41c054 100644
--- a/guix/build-system/julia.scm
+++ b/guix/build-system/julia.scm
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@
 
 (define* (julia-build store name inputs
                       #:key source
-                      (tests? #f)
+                      (tests? #t)
                       (phases '(@ (guix build julia-build-system)
                                   %standard-phases))
                       (outputs '("out"))
diff --git a/guix/build/julia-build-system.scm b/guix/build/julia-build-system.scm
index ff6fcf5fe3..11e9e58f96 100644
--- a/guix/build/julia-build-system.scm
+++ b/guix/build/julia-build-system.scm
@@ -78,13 +78,17 @@
     (invoke-julia (string-append "using " package)))
   #t)
 
-(define* (check #:key source inputs outputs #:allow-other-keys)
-  (let* ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
-         (package (strip-store-file-name source))
-         (builddir (string-append out "/share/julia/")))
-    (setenv "JULIA_DEPOT_PATH" builddir)
-    (setenv "JULIA_LOAD_PATH" (generate-load-path inputs outputs))
-    (invoke-julia (string-append "using Pkg;Pkg.test(\"" package "\")")))
+(define* (check #:key tests? source inputs outputs #:allow-other-keys)
+  (when tests?
+      (let* ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out"))
+             (package (strip-store-file-name source))
+             (builddir (string-append out "/share/julia/")))
+        (setenv "JULIA_DEPOT_PATH" builddir)
+        (setenv "JULIA_LOAD_PATH" (generate-load-path inputs outputs))
+        (display builddir)
+        (invoke "julia" (string-append builddir
+                                       "packages/"
+                                       package "/test/runtests.jl"))))
   #t)
 
 (define (julia-create-package-toml outputs source
@@ -119,7 +123,7 @@ version = \"" version "\"
     (delete 'check) ; tests must be run after installation
     (replace 'install install)
     (add-after 'install 'precompile precompile)
-    ;; (add-after 'install 'check check)
+    (add-after 'install 'check check)
     ;; TODO: In the future we could add a "system-image-generation" phase
     ;; where we use PackageCompiler.jl to speed up package loading times
     (delete 'configure)