diff --git a/core/core-packages.el b/core/core-packages.el
index f1ab55347..b27c450be 100644
--- a/core/core-packages.el
+++ b/core/core-packages.el
@@ -592,12 +592,13 @@ If ONLY-RECOMPILE-P is non-nil, only recompile out-of-date files."
                              else if (file-exists-p path)
                                collect path)))
       (dolist (file el-files)
-        (when (and (not (string-match-p "/test/.+\\.el$" file))
-                   (or (not only-recompile-p)
-                       (let ((elc-file (byte-compile-dest-file file)))
-                         (and (file-exists-p elc-file)
-                              (file-newer-than-file-p file elc-file)))))
-          (let ((result (byte-compile-file file))
+        (when (or (not only-recompile-p)
+                  (let ((elc-file (byte-compile-dest-file file)))
+                    (and (file-exists-p elc-file)
+                         (file-newer-than-file-p file elc-file))))
+          (let ((result (if (string-match-p "/test/.+\\.el$" file)
+                            'no-byte-compile
+                          (byte-compile-file file)))
                 (short-name (file-relative-name file doom-emacs-dir)))
             (cl-incf
              (cond ((eq result 'no-byte-compile)