diff --git a/test/test_dstr.c b/test/test_dstr.c
index 6168e98..f8f2fce 100644
--- a/test/test_dstr.c
+++ b/test/test_dstr.c
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ START_TEST (test_dstr_basics)
     ck_assert_str_eq(uc_dstr_str(&str), "");
 
     uc_dstr_reset(&str);
-    ck_assert_int_gt(uc_dstr_available(&str), 0);
+    fail_if(uc_dstr_available(&str) <= 0);
 
     s = uc_dstr_put(&str, 2);
     fail_if(s == NULL);
@@ -129,11 +129,11 @@ START_TEST (test_dstr_sprintf)
 
     uc_dstr_init(&str);
     rc = uc_dstr_sprintf(&str, "%d-%d-%d", 1, 2, 3);
-    ck_assert_int_gt(rc, 0);
+    fail_if(rc <=  0);
     ck_assert_str_eq(uc_dstr_str(&str), "1-2-3");
     
     rc = uc_dstr_sprintf(&str, " Another, bigger %s.", "string");
-    ck_assert_int_gt(rc, 0);
+    fail_if(rc <=  0);
     ck_assert_str_eq(uc_dstr_str(&str), "1-2-3 Another, bigger string.");
 
     uc_dstr_destroy(&str);
diff --git a/test/test_runner.c b/test/test_runner.c
index 5c09bb3..92c0eb0 100644
--- a/test/test_runner.c
+++ b/test/test_runner.c
@@ -94,8 +94,13 @@ main (int argc, char *argv[])
     if (test_case == NULL) {
         srunner_run_all (sr, CK_VERBOSE);
     } else {
+#if CHECK_MAJOR_VERSION == 0 && CHECK_MINOR_VERSION == 9 && CHECK_MICRO_VERSION <= 8
+        printf("Sorry, this libcheck version does not support running individual test cases");
+        return 3;
+#else
         printf("Running %s only\n", test_case);
         srunner_run(sr, NULL, test_case, CK_VERBOSE);
+#endif
     }
     number_failed = srunner_ntests_failed (sr);
     srunner_free (sr);