--- a/specs/stx-jv.rbspec	Wed Jan 17 22:08:08 2018 +0000
+++ b/specs/stx-jv.rbspec	Thu Jan 18 13:27:55 2018 +0000
@@ -244,8 +244,15 @@
       end
     end
 
-
-
+    # Normally the test package is not compiled but we have to
+    # compile programs used in tests before running the tests
+    # themselves. Sigh...
+    task "test:package:jv:libgdbs/tests:pre" do
+      chdir BUILD_DIR / 'jv' / 'libgdbs' / 'tests' do
+        sh "make -f Makefile.init mf" if unix?
+        make "testprograms"
+      end
+    end
 
     task :'install:main' => :'dist:jv-branch'