diff --git a/gen/test.hoon b/gen/test.hoon
index 64461c6b9b..edaee4991d 100644
--- a/gen/test.hoon
+++ b/gen/test.hoon
@@ -21,10 +21,6 @@
     ~
   ?-  -.q.b
       %&
-    ?.  ?|  =((end 3 5 p.b) 'test-')
-            =((end 3 6 p.b) 'check-')
-        ==
-      ~
     (run-test [p.b pax] eny p.q.b)
   ::
       %|
diff --git a/lib/tester.hoon b/lib/tester.hoon
index 62a1269928..68e167750a 100644
--- a/lib/tester.hoon
+++ b/lib/tester.hoon
@@ -44,12 +44,18 @@
   |=  {key/@ta value/tests}
   [key [%| value]]
 ::
+++  has-test-prefix
+  |=  a=term  ^-  ?
+  ?|  =((end 3 5 a) 'test-')
+      =((end 3 6 a) 'check-')
+  ==
+::
 ++  gen-tests
   :>  creates a {tests} list out of a vase of a test suite
   |=  v=vase
   ^-  tests
   =+  arms=(sort (sloe p.v) aor)
-  %+  turn  arms
+  %+  turn  (skim arms has-test-prefix)
   |=  arm/term
   ::REVIEW fewer asserts? recouple the nock and eat the runtime compile cost?
   ?>  (~(nest ut (~(peek ut p.v) %free 6)) & p:!>((init-test)))