diff --git a/openbsc/tests/ctrl_test_runner.py b/openbsc/tests/ctrl_test_runner.py
index 5030e8b1b..02bc28a97 100644
--- a/openbsc/tests/ctrl_test_runner.py
+++ b/openbsc/tests/ctrl_test_runner.py
@@ -30,7 +30,8 @@ import struct
 import osmopy.obscvty as obscvty
 import osmopy.osmoutil as osmoutil
 
-confpath = '.'
+# to be able to find $top_srcdir/doc/...
+confpath = os.path.join(sys.path[0], '..')
 verbose = False
 
 class TestCtrlBase(unittest.TestCase):
diff --git a/openbsc/tests/smpp_test_runner.py b/openbsc/tests/smpp_test_runner.py
index 06fb7665b..2fd144b2b 100644
--- a/openbsc/tests/smpp_test_runner.py
+++ b/openbsc/tests/smpp_test_runner.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 # along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
 import os
+import sys
 import time
 import unittest
 import socket
@@ -25,7 +26,7 @@ import socket
 import osmopy.obscvty as obscvty
 import osmopy.osmoutil as osmoutil
 
-confpath = '.'
+confpath = os.path.join(sys.path[0], '..')
 
 class TestVTYBase(unittest.TestCase):
 
diff --git a/openbsc/tests/vty_test_runner.py b/openbsc/tests/vty_test_runner.py
index 87b9eba97..305c956d7 100644
--- a/openbsc/tests/vty_test_runner.py
+++ b/openbsc/tests/vty_test_runner.py
@@ -24,10 +24,13 @@ import subprocess
 import osmopy.obscvty as obscvty
 import osmopy.osmoutil as osmoutil
 
-sys.path.append("../contrib")
+# add $top_srcdir/contrib to find ipa.py
+sys.path.append(os.path.join(sys.path[0], '..', 'contrib'))
+
 from ipa import IPA
 
-confpath = '.'
+# to be able to find $top_srcdir/doc/...
+confpath = os.path.join(sys.path[0], '..')
 
 class TestVTYBase(unittest.TestCase):