diff --git a/tox.ini b/tox.ini
index 34b0b330..8b4e2b74 100644
--- a/tox.ini
+++ b/tox.ini
@@ -51,15 +51,21 @@ commands =
     black .
 
 [testenv:docs]
-changedir = doc
 extras = docs
 commands =
-    # remove autosummary output
-    rm -rf {toxinidir}/doc/source/_neurom_build
-    make clean
-    make html SPHINXOPTS=-W
+    # remove autosummary output and cleanup
+    rm -rf {toxinidir}/doc/source/_neurom_build {toxinidir}/doc/build/*
+    sphinx-build -b doctest \
+        {toxinidir}/doc/source \
+        {toxworkdir}/doc/build/doctest \
+        -d {toxinidir}/doc/build/doctrees \
+        -W
+    sphinx-build -b html \
+        {toxinidir}/doc/source \
+        {toxinidir}/doc/build/html \
+        -d {toxinidir}/doc/build/doctrees \
+        -W
 allowlist_externals =
-    make
     rm
 
 [testenv:tutorial]