diff --git a/scripts/ci/riot-unit-tests.sh b/scripts/ci/riot-unit-tests.sh
index 7a9ed77793..337c0fe6c3 100755
--- a/scripts/ci/riot-unit-tests.sh
+++ b/scripts/ci/riot-unit-tests.sh
@@ -8,4 +8,5 @@ set -ev
 
 scripts/ci/layered-riot-web.sh
 cd ../riot-web
+yarn build:genfiles # so the tests can run. Faster version of `build`
 yarn test