diff --git a/tests/labrats/meson.build b/tests/labrats/meson.build
index 0b707edf5..b2b5a78d6 100644
--- a/tests/labrats/meson.build
+++ b/tests/labrats/meson.build
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+fs = import('fs')
+
 labrat_files = []
 
 if host_os == 'windows'
@@ -106,7 +108,7 @@ if host_os == 'qnx'
   ]
 endif
 
-fs = import('fs')
+labrats = []
 foreach f : labrat_files
-  fs.copyfile(f)
+  labrats += fs.copyfile(f)
 endforeach
diff --git a/tests/meson.build b/tests/meson.build
index 6574081d5..b04903e1f 100644
--- a/tests/meson.build
+++ b/tests/meson.build
@@ -78,4 +78,5 @@ runner = custom_target('frida-tests',
 test('core', find_program('./run.py'),
   args: runner.full_path(),
   timeout: 120,
+  depends: [runner, labrats],
 )