diff --git a/src/sage/doctest/reporting.py b/src/sage/doctest/reporting.py
index 3752213e50a..1074ee8c7ea 100644
--- a/src/sage/doctest/reporting.py
+++ b/src/sage/doctest/reporting.py
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ def have_optional_tag(self, tag):
             False
 
         """
-        if tag in self.controller.options.optional:
+        if self.controller.options.optional is True or tag in self.controller.options.optional:
             return True
         if 'external' in self.controller.options.optional:
             if tag in available_software.seen():