diff --git a/perl-POE.spec b/perl-POE.spec
index a6c0554..9c1ff0a 100644
--- a/perl-POE.spec
+++ b/perl-POE.spec
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 %bcond_without perl_POE_enables_network_test
 # Perform optional tests
 %bcond_without perl_POE_enables_optional_test
+# first time build, we need perl_bootstrap to break circular deps
+%global perl_bootstrap 1
 
 Name:       perl-POE
 Version:    1.370
@@ -70,13 +72,13 @@ BuildRequires:  perl(List::Util)
 BuildRequires:  perl(Test::More)
 BuildRequires:  perl(Tie::Handle)
 BuildRequires:  perl(Time::HiRes) >= 1.59
-%if %{with perl_POE_enables_optional_test}
+#%if %{with perl_POE_enables_optional_test}
 # Optional tests:
-%if !%{defined perl_bootstrap}
+#%if !%{defined perl_bootstrap}
 BuildRequires:  perl(POE::Test::Loops) >= 1.360
-%endif
+#%endif
 BuildRequires:  perl(YAML)
-%endif
+#%endif
 Requires:       perl(bytes)
 Recommends:     perl(Compress::Zlib) >= 1.33
 Requires:       perl(Curses) >= 1.08