diff --git a/ports/librdkafka/portfile.cmake b/ports/librdkafka/portfile.cmake
index 216b90ced..0cba857b9 100644
--- a/ports/librdkafka/portfile.cmake
+++ b/ports/librdkafka/portfile.cmake
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ vcpkg_configure_cmake(
     OPTIONS
         -DRDKAFKA_BUILD_STATIC=${RDKAFKA_BUILD_STATIC}
         -DRDKAFKA_BUILD_EXAMPLES=OFF
-        -DRDKAFKA_BUILD_TESTS=OFF
+        -DRDKAFKA_BUILD_TESTS=ON
         -DENABLE_LZ4_EXT=${ENABLE_LZ4_EXT}
         -DWITH_SSL=${WITH_SSL}
         -DWITH_BUNDLED_SSL=OFF