diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index c076461c3..682adbe63 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -36,3 +36,6 @@ ring = { git = "https://github.com/paritytech/ring" }
 [[bin]]
 path = "lighthouse/main.rs"
 name = "lighthouse"
+
+[features]
+benches = []
diff --git a/lighthouse/state/block/validation/benches.rs b/lighthouse/state/block/validation/benches.rs
index 8da101589..0aca5a03a 100644
--- a/lighthouse/state/block/validation/benches.rs
+++ b/lighthouse/state/block/validation/benches.rs
@@ -65,7 +65,6 @@ fn bench_block_validation_scenario<F>(
 }
 
 #[bench]
-#[ignore]
 fn bench_block_validation_10m_eth(b: &mut Bencher) {
     let total_validators: usize = 10_000_000 / 32;
     let cycle_length: u8 = 64;
@@ -100,7 +99,6 @@ fn bench_block_validation_10m_eth(b: &mut Bencher) {
 }
 
 #[bench]
-#[ignore]
 fn bench_block_validation_100m_eth(b: &mut Bencher) {
     let total_validators: usize = 100_000_000 / 32;
     let cycle_length: u8 = 64;
diff --git a/lighthouse/state/block/validation/mod.rs b/lighthouse/state/block/validation/mod.rs
index 6f2b1cfb0..1b7ebec59 100644
--- a/lighthouse/state/block/validation/mod.rs
+++ b/lighthouse/state/block/validation/mod.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 mod validate_ssz_block;
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests;
-#[cfg(test)]
+#[cfg(all(feature = "benches", test))]
 mod benches;
 
 use super::attestation_record;