diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/Makefile b/tools/testing/selftests/Makefile
index afbab4aeef3c..8a917cb4426a 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/Makefile
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/Makefile
@@ -77,8 +77,10 @@ TARGETS += zram
 TARGETS_HOTPLUG = cpu-hotplug
 TARGETS_HOTPLUG += memory-hotplug
 
-# User can optionally provide a TARGETS skiplist.
-SKIP_TARGETS ?=
+# User can optionally provide a TARGETS skiplist.  By default we skip
+# BPF since it has cutting edge build time dependencies which require
+# more effort to install.
+SKIP_TARGETS ?= bpf
 ifneq ($(SKIP_TARGETS),)
 	TMP := $(filter-out $(SKIP_TARGETS), $(TARGETS))
 	override TARGETS := $(TMP)