diff --git a/tests/old/testsuite/plugin/Makefile.am b/tests/old/testsuite/plugin/Makefile.am
index 5f8a0152d6..363c6851cb 100644
--- a/tests/old/testsuite/plugin/Makefile.am
+++ b/tests/old/testsuite/plugin/Makefile.am
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-plugindir = $(builddir)/testsuite/plugin/
+plugindir = $(shell cd $(top_builddir)/testsuite/plugin/ && pwd)
 
 GST_PLUGIN_PATH=$(shell cd $(top_builddir) && pwd)
 TESTS_ENVIRONMENT = GST_PLUGIN_PATH=$(GST_PLUGIN_PATH) GST_REGISTRY=$(GST_PLUGIN_PATH)/testsuite/test-registry.xml
diff --git a/testsuite/plugin/Makefile.am b/testsuite/plugin/Makefile.am
index 5f8a0152d6..363c6851cb 100644
--- a/testsuite/plugin/Makefile.am
+++ b/testsuite/plugin/Makefile.am
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-plugindir = $(builddir)/testsuite/plugin/
+plugindir = $(shell cd $(top_builddir)/testsuite/plugin/ && pwd)
 
 GST_PLUGIN_PATH=$(shell cd $(top_builddir) && pwd)
 TESTS_ENVIRONMENT = GST_PLUGIN_PATH=$(GST_PLUGIN_PATH) GST_REGISTRY=$(GST_PLUGIN_PATH)/testsuite/test-registry.xml