--- a/Makefile	Tue Sep 08 13:55:48 2026 +0200
+++ b/Makefile	Tue Sep 08 14:34:48 2026 +0200
@@ -36,6 +36,11 @@
 tests: $(BUILDDIR) $(BUILDDIR)/libchess$(LIB_EXT) FORCE
 	cd test && $(MAKE)
 
+# only to be called specifically - not included in "all" target
+# we don't want to require that CXX even exists
+test-cpp: test/test.cpp
+	test -n '$(CXX)' && $(CXX) -o /dev/null -Isrc -c $<
+
 check: tests FORCE
 	$(BUILDDIR)/run-tests