diff --git a/tests/check/Makefile.am b/tests/check/Makefile.am
index 442a4320a1..14d42e218f 100644
--- a/tests/check/Makefile.am
+++ b/tests/check/Makefile.am
@@ -192,8 +192,10 @@ noinst_HEADERS = \
 EXTRA_DIST = \
 	libs/test_transform.c
 
-AM_CFLAGS = $(GST_OBJ_CFLAGS) -UG_DISABLE_ASSERT -UG_DISABLE_CAST_CHECKS
-AM_CXXFLAGS = $(GST_OBJ_CXXFLAGS) -UG_DISABLE_ASSERT -UG_DISABLE_CAST_CHECKS
+AM_CFLAGS = $(GST_OBJ_CFLAGS) -UG_DISABLE_ASSERT -UG_DISABLE_CAST_CHECKS \
+	-DGST_CHECK_TEST_ENVIRONMENT_BEACON="\"GST_STATE_IGNORE_ELEMENTS\""
+AM_CXXFLAGS = $(GST_OBJ_CXXFLAGS) -UG_DISABLE_ASSERT -UG_DISABLE_CAST_CHECKS \
+	-DGST_CHECK_TEST_ENVIRONMENT_BEACON="\"GST_STATE_IGNORE_ELEMENTS\""
 LDADD = $(top_builddir)/libs/gst/check/libgstcheck-@GST_API_VERSION@.la \
 	$(top_builddir)/libs/gst/base/libgstbase-@GST_API_VERSION@.la \
 	$(GST_OBJ_LIBS)