diff --git a/.github/workflows/test.yml b/.github/workflows/test.yml
index 46277af..c848e42 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test.yml
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ jobs:
           # the code assumes msvc style printf atm
           export CFLAGS=-D__USE_MINGW_ANSI_STDIO=0
 
-          meson -Dtests=false _build
+          meson _build
           meson compile -C _build
 
   debian-meson:
diff --git a/tests/meson.build b/tests/meson.build
index b331310..ebf41f6 100644
--- a/tests/meson.build
+++ b/tests/meson.build
@@ -19,5 +19,5 @@ tests = [
 # yuck
 foreach test : tests
   test_file = configure_file(input: test + '.sh', output: test, copy: true)
-  run_command('chmod', '755', test_file, check : true)
+  run_command(find_program('chmod', required : false, disabler : true), '755', test_file, check : true)
 endforeach