diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index d5dae55fa..4f1b95805 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -374,7 +374,14 @@ endif
 
 check-units:
 
-check: check-units installcheck pytest
+check: check-units installcheck check-protos pytest
+
+check-protos: $(ALL_PROGRAMS)
+ifeq ($(PYTEST),)
+	@echo "py.test is required to run the protocol tests, please install using 'pip3 install -r requirements.txt', and rerun 'configure'."; false
+else
+	@(cd external/lnprototest && PYTHONPATH=$(PYTHONPATH) LIGHTNING_SRC=../.. $(PYTEST) --runner lnprototest.clightning.Runner $(PYTEST_OPTS))
+endif
 
 pytest: $(ALL_PROGRAMS)
 ifeq ($(PYTEST),)