diff --git a/build.zig b/build.zig
index 5629706..a16583e 100644
--- a/build.zig
+++ b/build.zig
@@ -10,7 +10,8 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
         .optimize = optimize,
     });
 
-    const sudo = b.option([]const u8, "sudo", "sudo command") orelse null;
+    const setcap = b.option(bool, "setcap", "run setcap before executing the test binary") orelse false;
+    const sudo = b.option([]const u8, "sudo", "sudo command for setcap command") orelse null;
 
     // This declares intent for the executable to be installed into the
     // standard location when the user invokes the "install" step (the default
@@ -46,15 +47,20 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
         .optimize = optimize,
     });
 
-    const set_cap = b.addSystemCommand(if (sudo) |cmd|
-        &.{ cmd, "setcap", "cap_net_admin=+ep" }
-    else
-        &.{ "setcap", "cap_net_admin=+ep" });
-    set_cap.addArtifactArg(unit_tests);
-
     const run_unit_tests = b.addRunArtifact(unit_tests);
 
-    run_unit_tests.step.dependOn(&set_cap.step);
+    if (setcap and sudo == null) {
+        std.log.warn("non-null setcap and no sudo command probably won't work. Add sudo.", .{});
+    }
+
+    if (setcap) {
+        const set_cap_cmd = b.addSystemCommand(if (sudo) |cmd|
+            &.{ cmd, "setcap", "cap_net_admin=+ep" }
+        else
+            &.{ "setcap", "cap_net_admin=+ep" });
+        set_cap_cmd.addArtifactArg(unit_tests);
+        run_unit_tests.step.dependOn(&set_cap_cmd.step);
+    }
 
     // Similar to creating the run step earlier, this exposes a `test` step to
     // the `zig build --help` menu, providing a way for the user to request