diff --git a/doc/build-freebsd.md b/doc/build-freebsd.md
--- a/doc/build-freebsd.md
+++ b/doc/build-freebsd.md
@@ -14,6 +14,12 @@
 pkg install autoconf automake boost-libs gmake libevent libtool openssl pkgconf
 ```
 
+In order to run the test suite (recommended), you will need to have Python 3 installed:
+
+```
+pkg install python3
+```
+
 For the wallet (optional):
 
 ```
@@ -43,12 +49,20 @@
 ./configure --disable-wallet CXXFLAGS="-I/usr/local/include"
 ```
 
-Then to compile:
+followed by either:
 
 ```
 gmake
 ```
 
+to build without testing, or
+
+```
+gmake check
+```
+
+to also run the test suite (recommended, if Python 3 is installed).
+
 *Note on debugging*: The version of `gdb` installed by default is [ancient and considered harmful](https://wiki.freebsd.org/GdbRetirement).
 It is not suitable for debugging a multi-threaded C++ program, not even for getting backtraces. Please install the package `gdb` and
 use the versioned gdb command (e.g. `gdb7111`).