diff --git a/math/ensmallen/Makefile b/math/ensmallen/Makefile
index 3672862896fd..463b2f26c926 100644
--- a/math/ensmallen/Makefile
+++ b/math/ensmallen/Makefile
@@ -1,27 +1,26 @@
 PORTNAME=	ensmallen
 DISTVERSION=	2.17.0
 CATEGORIES=	math
 MASTER_SITES=	https://ensmallen.org/files/
 
 MAINTAINER=	yuri@FreeBSD.org
 COMMENT=	Flexible C++ library for efficient mathematical optimization
 
 LICENSE=	BSD3CLAUSE
 LICENSE_FILE=	${WRKSRC}/LICENSE.txt
 
 BUILD_DEPENDS=	${LOCALBASE}/include/armadillo_bits/config.hpp:math/armadillo
 RUN_DEPENDS=	${LOCALBASE}/include/armadillo_bits/config.hpp:math/armadillo
 
 USES=		cmake compiler:c++11-lang localbase
-CMAKE_OFF=	BUILD_TESTS
+CMAKE_ON=	BUILD_TESTS # will be removed
 
 NO_BUILD=	yes
 NO_ARCH=	yes
 
-do-test: # due to a regression the test executable isn't built, see https://github.com/mlpack/ensmallen/issues/312
+do-test:
 	@cd ${BUILD_WRKSRC} && \
-		${SETENV} ${CONFIGURE_ENV} ${CMAKE_BIN} ${CMAKE_ARGS} -DBUILD_TESTS:BOOL=ON ${CMAKE_SOURCE_PATH} && \
-		${SETENV} ${MAKE_ENV} ${MAKE_CMD} ${MAKE_ARGS} ${ALL_TARGET} && \
-		${SETENV} ${MAKE_ENV} ${MAKE_CMD} ${MAKE_ARGS} test
+		${SETENV} ${MAKE_ENV} ${MAKE_CMD} ${MAKE_ARGS} ensmallen_tests && \
+		./ensmallen_tests
 
 .include <bsd.port.mk>