diff --git a/tests/check/Makefile.am b/tests/check/Makefile.am
index 5079bc7274..ccce33cf03 100644
--- a/tests/check/Makefile.am
+++ b/tests/check/Makefile.am
@@ -164,7 +164,8 @@ noinst_PROGRAMS = \
 	elements/autodetect
 
 AM_CFLAGS = $(GST_OBJ_CFLAGS) $(GST_CHECK_CFLAGS) $(CHECK_CFLAGS) \
-	$(GST_OPTION_CFLAGS) -DGST_TEST_FILES_PATH="\"$(TEST_FILES_DIRECTORY)\""
+	$(GST_OPTION_CFLAGS) -DGST_TEST_FILES_PATH="\"$(TEST_FILES_DIRECTORY)\"" \
+	-UG_DISABLE_ASSERT -UG_DISABLE_CAST_CHECKS
 LDADD = $(GST_OBJ_LIBS) $(GST_CHECK_LIBS) $(CHECK_LIBS)
 
 # valgrind testing
@@ -210,7 +211,7 @@ elements_level_LDADD = $(LDADD) $(LIBM)
 elements_matroskamux_LDADD = $(GST_BASE_LIBS) $(LDADD) $(LIBM)
 
 elements_rtpbin_buffer_list_CFLAGS = $(GST_PLUGINS_BASE_CFLAGS) $(GST_CFLAGS) \
-	$(WARNING_CFLAGS) $(ERROR_CFLAGS) $(GST_CHECK_CFLAGS)
+	$(WARNING_CFLAGS) $(ERROR_CFLAGS) $(GST_CHECK_CFLAGS) $(AM_CFLAGS)
 elements_rtpbin_buffer_list_LDADD = $(GST_PLUGINS_BASE_LIBS) \
              -lgstnetbuffer-@GST_MAJORMINOR@ -lgstrtp-@GST_MAJORMINOR@ \
              $(GST_BASE_LIBS) $(GST_LIBS_LIBS) $(GST_CHECK_LIBS)