diff --git a/src/test/README.md b/src/test/README.md
index eeb04c6ffae69..dbaa9c27f3ae4 100644
--- a/src/test/README.md
+++ b/src/test/README.md
@@ -5,7 +5,10 @@ and tests weren't explicitly disabled.
 
 After configuring, they can be run with `make check`.
 
-To run the bitcoind tests manually, launch `src/test/test_bitcoin`.
+To run the bitcoind tests manually, launch `src/test/test_bitcoin`. To recompile
+after a test file was modified, run `make` and then run the test again. If you
+modify a non-test file, use `make -C src/test` to recompile only what's needed
+to run the bitcoind tests.
 
 To add more bitcoind tests, add `BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE` functions to the existing
 .cpp files in the `test/` directory or add new .cpp files that