diff --git a/pmb/build/_package.py b/pmb/build/_package.py
index 3a9b74e9..be936044 100644
--- a/pmb/build/_package.py
+++ b/pmb/build/_package.py
@@ -97,6 +97,8 @@ def get_depends(args, apkbuild):
     """
     # Read makedepends and depends
     ret = list(apkbuild["makedepends"])
+    if "!check" not in apkbuild["options"]:
+        ret += apkbuild["checkdepends"]
     if "ignore_depends" not in args or not args.ignore_depends:
         ret += apkbuild["depends"]
     ret = sorted(set(ret))
diff --git a/pmb/config/__init__.py b/pmb/config/__init__.py
index 8dc09395..d6037d5a 100644
--- a/pmb/config/__init__.py
+++ b/pmb/config/__init__.py
@@ -190,6 +190,7 @@ apkbuild_attributes = {
     "depends": {"array": True},
     "depends_dev": {"array": True},
     "makedepends": {"array": True},
+    "checkdepends": {"array": True},
     "options": {"array": True},
     "pkgname": {"array": False},
     "pkgdesc": {"array": False},
diff --git a/test/test_build_package.py b/test/test_build_package.py
index 07444a99..150a2f63 100644
--- a/test/test_build_package.py
+++ b/test/test_build_package.py
@@ -124,34 +124,34 @@ def test_check_arch(args):
 def test_get_depends(monkeypatch):
     func = pmb.build._package.get_depends
     apkbuild = {"pkgname": "test", "depends": ["a"], "makedepends": ["c", "b"],
-                "subpackages": ["d"]}
+                "checkdepends": "e", "subpackages": ["d"], "options": []}
 
     # Depends + makedepends
     args = args_patched(monkeypatch, ["pmbootstrap", "build", "test"])
-    assert func(args, apkbuild) == ["a", "b", "c"]
+    assert func(args, apkbuild) == ["a", "b", "c", "e"]
     args = args_patched(monkeypatch, ["pmbootstrap", "install"])
-    assert func(args, apkbuild) == ["a", "b", "c"]
+    assert func(args, apkbuild) == ["a", "b", "c", "e"]
 
     # Ignore depends (-i)
     args = args_patched(monkeypatch, ["pmbootstrap", "build", "-i", "test"])
-    assert func(args, apkbuild) == ["b", "c"]
+    assert func(args, apkbuild) == ["b", "c", "e"]
 
     # Package depends on its own subpackage
     apkbuild["makedepends"] = ["d"]
     args = args_patched(monkeypatch, ["pmbootstrap", "build", "test"])
-    assert func(args, apkbuild) == ["a"]
+    assert func(args, apkbuild) == ["a", "e"]
 
     # Package depends on itself
     apkbuild["makedepends"] = ["c", "b", "test"]
     args = args_patched(monkeypatch, ["pmbootstrap", "build", "test"])
-    assert func(args, apkbuild) == ["a", "b", "c"]
+    assert func(args, apkbuild) == ["a", "b", "c", "e"]
 
 
 def test_build_depends(args, monkeypatch):
     # Shortcut and fake apkbuild
     func = pmb.build._package.build_depends
     apkbuild = {"pkgname": "test", "depends": ["a"], "makedepends": ["b"],
-                "subpackages": ["d"]}
+                "checkdepends": [], "subpackages": ["d"], "options": []}
 
     # No depends built (first makedepends + depends, then only makedepends)
     monkeypatch.setattr(pmb.build._package, "package", return_none)