diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/ardev_common.sh.in b/gtk2_ardour/ardev_common.sh.in
index 8724ff2c7d..def4d4a456 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/ardev_common.sh.in
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/ardev_common.sh.in
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ export ARDOUR_MIDIMAPS_PATH=$TOP/midi_maps:.
 export ARDOUR_MCP_PATH=$TOP/mcp:.
 export ARDOUR_EXPORT_FORMATS_PATH=$TOP/export:.
 export ARDOUR_BACKEND_PATH=$libs/backends/jack
+export ARDOUR_TEST_PATH=$libs/ardour/test/data
 
 #
 # even though we set the above variables, ardour requires that these