diff --git a/.github/workflows/coverage.yml b/.github/workflows/coverage.yml
index c97fdaf8f..570b1931d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/coverage.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/coverage.yml
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ jobs:
 
     - name: Configure CMake
       working-directory: ${{runner.workspace}}/build
-      run: cmake $GITHUB_WORKSPACE -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Debug -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=g++-11 -G "Ninja" -DCOVERAGE=ON
+      run: cmake $GITHUB_WORKSPACE -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Debug -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=g++-11 -G "Ninja" -DCOVERAGE=ON -DPYTHON_TEST_FORCE=ON
 
     - name: Build Library, Bindings and Tests
       working-directory: ${{runner.workspace}}/build
diff --git a/.github/workflows/debug.yml b/.github/workflows/debug.yml
index 3994cccef..ad30c10ac 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/debug.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/debug.yml
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ jobs:
 
     - name: Configure CMake
       working-directory: ${{runner.workspace}}/build
-      run: cmake $GITHUB_WORKSPACE -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=$BUILD_TYPE -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=${{matrix.config.cxx}} -G "Ninja" -DWERROR=ON
+      run: cmake $GITHUB_WORKSPACE -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=$BUILD_TYPE -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=${{matrix.config.cxx}} -G "Ninja" -DWERROR=ON -DPYTHON_TEST_FORCE=ON
 
     - name: Build Library and Bindings
       working-directory: ${{runner.workspace}}/build
diff --git a/python/tests/CMakeLists.txt b/python/tests/CMakeLists.txt
index 1c0a9df22..4b7263aba 100644
--- a/python/tests/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/python/tests/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@ if(${PYTEST_result} EQUAL 0)
   set(PYTHON_TESTS ON)
   message(STATUS "pytest package found, Python tests will be performed.")
 else()
-    if(CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE STREQUAL "Debug")
-        message(FATAL_ERROR "pytest package not available, can not perform Python tests.")
+    if(PYTHON_TESTS_REQUIRED)
+        message(ERROR "pytest package not available, will not perform Python tests.")
     else()
         message(WARNING "pytest package not available, will not perform Python tests.")
     endif()