diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/Makefile b/tools/testing/selftests/Makefile
index e08f26ca4071..4cdbae6f4e61 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/Makefile
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/Makefile
@@ -208,8 +208,12 @@ ifdef INSTALL_PATH
 	echo "  cat /dev/null > \$$logfile" >> $(ALL_SCRIPT)
 	echo "fi" >> $(ALL_SCRIPT)
 
+	@# While building run_kselftest.sh skip also non-existent TARGET dirs:
+	@# they could be the result of a build failure and should NOT be
+	@# included in the generated runlist.
 	for TARGET in $(TARGETS); do \
 		BUILD_TARGET=$$BUILD/$$TARGET;	\
+		[ ! -d $$INSTALL_PATH/$$TARGET ] && echo "Skipping non-existent dir: $$TARGET" && continue; \
 		echo "[ -w /dev/kmsg ] && echo \"kselftest: Running tests in $$TARGET\" >> /dev/kmsg" >> $(ALL_SCRIPT); \
 		echo "cd $$TARGET" >> $(ALL_SCRIPT); \
 		echo -n "run_many" >> $(ALL_SCRIPT); \