diff --git a/libs/ardour/test/test_util.cc b/libs/ardour/test/test_util.cc
index 045b916aff..7be501d100 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/test/test_util.cc
+++ b/libs/ardour/test/test_util.cc
@@ -134,11 +134,12 @@ PBD::Searchpath
 test_search_path ()
 {
 #ifdef PLATFORM_WINDOWS
-	std::string wsp(windows_package_directory_path());
-	return Glib::build_filename (wsp, "ardour_testdata");
-#else
-	return Glib::getenv("ARDOUR_TEST_PATH");
+	if (!getenv("ARDOUR_TEST_PATH")) {
+		std::string wsp(windows_package_directory_path());
+		return Glib::build_filename (wsp, "ardour_testdata");
+	}
 #endif
+	return Glib::getenv("ARDOUR_TEST_PATH");
 }
 
 std::string
diff --git a/libs/evoral/test/SMFTest.cpp b/libs/evoral/test/SMFTest.cpp
index d42ee26dff..0907cdc2f5 100644
--- a/libs/evoral/test/SMFTest.cpp
+++ b/libs/evoral/test/SMFTest.cpp
@@ -25,11 +25,12 @@ PBD::Searchpath
 test_search_path ()
 {
 #ifdef PLATFORM_WINDOWS
-	string wsp(g_win32_get_package_installation_directory_of_module(NULL));
-	return Glib::build_filename (wsp,  "evoral_testdata");
-#else
-	return Glib::getenv("EVORAL_TEST_PATH");
+	if (!getenv("EVORAL_TEST_PATH")) {
+		string wsp(g_win32_get_package_installation_directory_of_module(NULL));
+		return Glib::build_filename (wsp,  "evoral_testdata");
+	}
 #endif
+	return Glib::getenv("EVORAL_TEST_PATH");
 }
 
 void
diff --git a/libs/midi++2/test/MidnamTest.cpp b/libs/midi++2/test/MidnamTest.cpp
index 03d0682c8d..4a0d85801e 100644
--- a/libs/midi++2/test/MidnamTest.cpp
+++ b/libs/midi++2/test/MidnamTest.cpp
@@ -18,15 +18,16 @@ PBD::Searchpath
 test_search_path ()
 {
 #ifdef PLATFORM_WINDOWS
-	std::vector<std::string> path_tok;
-	path_tok.push_back (g_win32_get_package_installation_directory_of_module(NULL));
-	path_tok.push_back ("share");
-	path_tok.push_back ("ardour3");
-	path_tok.push_back ("patchfiles");
-	return Glib::build_filename (path_tok);
-#else
-	return Glib::getenv("MIDIPP_TEST_PATH");
+	if (!getenv("MIDIPP_TEST_PATH")) {
+		std::vector<std::string> path_tok;
+		path_tok.push_back (g_win32_get_package_installation_directory_of_module(NULL));
+		path_tok.push_back ("share");
+		path_tok.push_back ("ardour3");
+		path_tok.push_back ("patchfiles");
+		return Glib::build_filename (path_tok);
+	}
 #endif
+	return Glib::getenv("MIDIPP_TEST_PATH");
 }
 
 void
diff --git a/libs/pbd/test/test_common.cc b/libs/pbd/test/test_common.cc
index f9bc42c027..12bab8baa8 100644
--- a/libs/pbd/test/test_common.cc
+++ b/libs/pbd/test/test_common.cc
@@ -36,11 +36,12 @@ PBD::Searchpath
 test_search_path ()
 {
 #ifdef PLATFORM_WINDOWS
-	std::string wsp(g_win32_get_package_installation_directory_of_module(NULL));
-	return Glib::build_filename (wsp,  "pbd_testdata");
-#else
-	return Glib::getenv("PBD_TEST_PATH");
+	if (!getenv("PBD_TEST_PATH")) {
+		std::string wsp(g_win32_get_package_installation_directory_of_module(NULL));
+		return Glib::build_filename (wsp,  "pbd_testdata");
+	}
 #endif
+	return Glib::getenv("PBD_TEST_PATH");
 }
 
 std::string