diff --git a/biology/abyss/Makefile b/biology/abyss/Makefile
index 6faf6c0094de..4e6c2ad26be8 100644
--- a/biology/abyss/Makefile
+++ b/biology/abyss/Makefile
@@ -32,6 +32,8 @@ make_CMD=	${PREFIX}/bin/gmake
 GNU_CONFIGURE=	yes
 CONFIGURE_ARGS=	--without-sparsehash # configure fails to find std::hash, reported to the ML: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/trans-abyss/SZDBKR5bKxs
 
+TEST_TARGET=	check # tests fail to compile, see https://github.com/bcgsc/abyss/issues/453
+
 OPTIONS_DEFINE=	DOCS
 
 PORTDOCS=	*