diff --git a/unittest/c-library/CMakeLists.txt b/unittest/c-library/CMakeLists.txt
index 21b00b5c03..496cbb5055 100644
--- a/unittest/c-library/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/unittest/c-library/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ if(BUILD_MPI)
   add_test(NAME RunCoupleSimpleCC
     COMMAND $<TARGET_FILE:simpleCC> 1 ${LAMMPS_DIR}/examples/COUPLE/simple/in.lj)
 
-  if($<TARGET_EXISTS:simpleF90>)
+  if(TARGET simpleF90)
     add_test(NAME RunCoupleSimpleF90
       COMMAND $<TARGET_FILE:simpleF90> 1 ${LAMMPS_DIR}/examples/COUPLE/simple/in.lj)
     set_tests_properties(RunCoupleSimpleF90 PROPERTIES