diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 69682f29c..97072f81a 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -33,23 +33,23 @@ get-dashboard:
 
 .PHONY: eunit
 eunit: $(REBAR)
-	@$(REBAR) eunit -v -c
+	@ENABLE_COVER_COMPILE=1 $(REBAR) eunit -v -c
 
 .PHONY: proper
 proper: $(REBAR)
-	@$(REBAR) as test proper -d test/props -c
+	@ENABLE_COVER_COMPILE=1 $(REBAR) as test proper -d test/props -c
 
 .PHONY: ct
 ct: $(REBAR)
-	@$(REBAR) ct --name 'test@127.0.0.1' -c -v
+	@ENABLE_COVER_COMPILE=1 $(REBAR) ct --name 'test@127.0.0.1' -c -v
 
 .PHONY: cover
 cover: $(REBAR)
-	@$(REBAR) cover
+	@ENABLE_COVER_COMPILE=1 $(REBAR) cover
 
 .PHONY: coveralls
 coveralls: $(REBAR)
-	@$(REBAR) as test coveralls send
+	@ENABLE_COVER_COMPILE=1 $(REBAR) as test coveralls send
 
 .PHONY: $(REL_PROFILES)
 $(REL_PROFILES:%=%): $(REBAR) get-dashboard
diff --git a/rebar.config b/rebar.config
index f1fe1d3b2..4b99dde2d 100644
--- a/rebar.config
+++ b/rebar.config
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@
    ]
 }.
 
-{cover_enabled, true}.
 {cover_opts, [verbose]}.
 {cover_export_enabled, true}.
 {cover_excl_mods, [emqx_exproto_pb, emqx_exhook_pb]}.
diff --git a/rebar.config.erl b/rebar.config.erl
index 7fb892124..47ba3a3d9 100644
--- a/rebar.config.erl
+++ b/rebar.config.erl
@@ -50,11 +50,19 @@ community_plugin_overrides() ->
     [{add, App, [ {erl_opts, [{i, "include"}]}]} || App <- relx_plugin_apps_extra()].
 
 config() ->
-    [ {plugins, plugins()}
+    [ {cover_enabled, is_cover_enabled()}
+    , {plugins, plugins()}
     , {profiles, profiles()}
     , {project_app_dirs, project_app_dirs()}
     ].
 
+is_cover_enabled() ->
+    case os:getenv("ENABLE_COVER_COMPILE") of
+        "1"-> true;
+        "true" -> true;
+        _ -> false
+    end.
+
 is_enterprise() ->
     filelib:is_regular("EMQX_ENTERPRISE").