diff --git a/tests/fate/filter-video.mak b/tests/fate/filter-video.mak
index d87129b023..17ec1595e5 100644
--- a/tests/fate/filter-video.mak
+++ b/tests/fate/filter-video.mak
@@ -289,7 +289,9 @@ tests/pixfmts.mak: ffmpeg$(EXESUF)
 	$(Q)$(TARGET_EXEC) $(TARGET_PATH)/$< -pix_fmts list 2> /dev/null | awk 'NR > 8 && /^IO/ { printf $$2 " " }' >> $@
 	$(Q)printf "\n" >> $@
 
-ifneq (,$(RUNNING_FATE))
+RUNNING_PIXFMTS_TESTS := $(filter check fate-list fate-filter-pixdesc%,$(MAKECMDGOALS))
+
+ifneq (,$(RUNNING_PIXFMTS_TESTS))
 -include tests/pixfmts.mak
 endif