diff --git a/contrib/make_release b/contrib/make_release
index 11385dc..6d57d73 100755
--- a/contrib/make_release
+++ b/contrib/make_release
@@ -11,6 +11,10 @@ if [ -e "release" ]; then
     exit 1
 fi
 
+echo running tests...
+
+./zig build test
+
 echo building...
 
 ./zig build -Dpackage_release --prefix release/build