diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 380385c..861c771 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -107,7 +107,11 @@ add_library(${EXTENSION_NAME} STATIC ${EXTENSION_SOURCES})
 
 set(PARAMETERS "-warnings")
 build_loadable_extension(${TARGET_NAME} ${PARAMETERS} ${EXTENSION_SOURCES})
-add_subdirectory("test/c")
+IF (DEFINED ENV{SKIP_SUBSTRAIT_C_TESTS})
+    message(STATUS "Skipping substrait c tests")
+ELSE()
+    add_subdirectory("test/c")
+ENDIF()
 
 install(
   TARGETS ${EXTENSION_NAME}