diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/fmt/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/fmt/package.py
index daec4702a7d..44d89c1c871 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/fmt/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/fmt/package.py
@@ -106,4 +106,7 @@ def cmake_args(self):
         # and call to build "doc" target
         args.append("-DFMT_DOC=OFF")
 
+        # Don't build tests
+        args.append(self.define("FMT_TEST", self.run_tests))
+
         return args