diff --git a/scripts/unit-test.py b/scripts/unit-test.py
index aaaf92b..5b98f1e 100755
--- a/scripts/unit-test.py
+++ b/scripts/unit-test.py
@@ -1030,6 +1030,8 @@
             os.environ["CXX"] = "clang++"
             with TemporaryDirectory(prefix="build", dir=".") as build_dir:
                 check_call_cmd("meson", "setup", build_dir)
+                if not os.path.isfile(".openbmc-no-clang"):
+                    check_call_cmd("meson", "compile", "-C", build_dir)
                 try:
                     check_call_cmd(
                         "run-clang-tidy", "-fix", "-format", "-p", build_dir