diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 809f54dd31..cfc8159b1f 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -230,6 +230,13 @@ updatesubmodules:
 testbuild:
 	$(Q) (cd $(PX4_BASE) && $(MAKE) distclean && $(MAKE) archives && $(MAKE) -j8)
 
+#
+# Unittest targets. Builds and runs the host-level
+# unit tests.
+.PHONY: tests
+tests:
+	$(Q) (cd $(PX4_BASE)/unittests && $(MAKE) unittests)
+
 #
 # Cleanup targets.  'clean' should remove all built products and force
 # a complete re-compilation, 'distclean' should remove everything