diff --git a/compiler/tests/Makefile b/compiler/tests/Makefile
index 2e918eba..c563d4fa 100644
--- a/compiler/tests/Makefile
+++ b/compiler/tests/Makefile
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ include $(TOP_DIR)/openram.mk
 ARGS ?=
 TEST_TECHS ?= scn4m_subm freepdk45
 TECHS ?= scn4m_subm freepdk45 sky130
-KEEP ?= false
 
 TEST_DIR   = $(TOP_DIR)/compiler/tests
 TEST_SRCS  = $(sort $(notdir $(wildcard $(TEST_DIR)/*_test.py)))
@@ -122,7 +121,7 @@ $(TEST_BASES):
 	@mkdir -p results/$*/tmp
 	@$(DOCKER_CMD) sh -c ". /home/cad-user/.bashrc && sleep 1 && python3 -u $(OPENRAM_DIR)/$(getfile).py \
 		-t $(gettech) -k -v $(ARGS) -p $(OPENRAM_DIR)/results/$* > $(OPENRAM_DIR)/results/$*.out 2>&1 && touch $(OPENRAM_DIR)/results/$*.ok || touch $(OPENRAM_DIR)/results/$*.bad"
-ifeq ($(KEEP),true)
+ifdef $(KEEP)
 	@test -f $(TOP_DIR)/compiler/tests/results/$*.ok && echo "$* ... PASS!" || echo "$* ... FAIL!"
 else
 	@test -f $(TOP_DIR)/compiler/tests/results/$*.ok && echo "$* ... PASS!" && rm -rf $(TOP_DIR)/compiler/tests/results/$* || echo "$* ... FAIL!"