diff --git a/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/test-build-if/feature.t b/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/test-build-if/feature.t
index bebb097ef550..4a73702132ec 100644
--- a/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/test-build-if/feature.t
+++ b/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/test-build-if/feature.t
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
   $ cat > dune-project << EOF
-  > (lang dune 3.8)
+  > (lang dune 3.9)
   > EOF
 
 The fields evaluates to true then var=true is passed.
@@ -15,20 +15,6 @@ The fields evaluates to true then var=true is passed.
   > broken
   > EOF
 
-Version check: this only works on 3.9+.
-
-  $ dune build
-  File "dune", line 3, characters 1-30:
-  3 |  (build_if %{env:BUILD=false})
-       ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
-  Error: 'build_if' is only available since version 3.9 of the dune language.
-  Please update your dune-project file to have (lang dune 3.9).
-  [1]
-
-  $ cat > dune-project << EOF
-  > (lang dune 3.9)
-  > EOF
-
 The build is attempted only when the enabled_if clause evaluates to true.
 
   $ dune build
diff --git a/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/test-build-if/version.t b/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/test-build-if/version.t
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..e5abbbd9d47c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/blackbox-tests/test-cases/test-build-if/version.t
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+  $ cat > dune-project << EOF
+  > (lang dune 3.8)
+  > EOF
+
+  $ cat > dune << EOF
+  > (test
+  >  (name t)
+  >  (build_if true))
+  > EOF
+
+  $ touch t.ml
+
+  $ dune build
+  File "dune", line 3, characters 1-16:
+  3 |  (build_if true))
+       ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+  Error: 'build_if' is only available since version 3.9 of the dune language.
+  Please update your dune-project file to have (lang dune 3.9).
+  [1]
+
+  $ cat > dune-project << EOF
+  > (lang dune 3.9)
+  > EOF
+
+  $ dune build