diff --git a/ament_cmake_test/cmake/ament_add_test.cmake b/ament_cmake_test/cmake/ament_add_test.cmake
index d64cb16a..e4ea3f07 100644
--- a/ament_cmake_test/cmake/ament_add_test.cmake
+++ b/ament_cmake_test/cmake/ament_add_test.cmake
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ function(ament_add_test testname)
     "${testname}"
     PROPERTIES TIMEOUT ${ARG_TIMEOUT}
   )
-  if(ARG_SKIP_RETURN_CODE)
+  if(DEFINED ARG_SKIP_RETURN_CODE)
     set_tests_properties(
       "${testname}"
       PROPERTIES SKIP_RETURN_CODE ${ARG_SKIP_RETURN_CODE}