diff --git a/tests/old/testsuite/Makefile.am b/tests/old/testsuite/Makefile.am
index ba69163882..1d95a82218 100644
--- a/tests/old/testsuite/Makefile.am
+++ b/tests/old/testsuite/Makefile.am
@@ -9,3 +9,6 @@ check_PROGRAMS = $(testprogs)
 # we have nothing but apps here, we can do this safely
 LIBS += $(GST_LIBS)
 CFLAGS += $(GST_CFLAGS)
+
+
+DIST_SUBDIRS = refcounting capsnego
diff --git a/tests/old/testsuite/capsnego/Makefile.am b/tests/old/testsuite/capsnego/Makefile.am
index c2ac4395e7..6b1c466c7c 100644
--- a/tests/old/testsuite/capsnego/Makefile.am
+++ b/tests/old/testsuite/capsnego/Makefile.am
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-SUBDIRS =
-
 testprogs = capsnego converter converter2 enum
 
 TESTS = $(testprogs)
diff --git a/tests/old/testsuite/refcounting/Makefile.am b/tests/old/testsuite/refcounting/Makefile.am
index 51df4da64e..380a773311 100644
--- a/tests/old/testsuite/refcounting/Makefile.am
+++ b/tests/old/testsuite/refcounting/Makefile.am
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-SUBDIRS =
-
 testprogs = object element pad element_pad bin thread
 
 object_SOURCES = object.c mem.c
@@ -16,3 +14,4 @@ check_PROGRAMS = $(testprogs)
 # we have nothing but apps here, we can do this safely
 LIBS += $(GST_LIBS)
 CFLAGS += $(GST_CFLAGS)
+
diff --git a/testsuite/Makefile.am b/testsuite/Makefile.am
index ba69163882..1d95a82218 100644
--- a/testsuite/Makefile.am
+++ b/testsuite/Makefile.am
@@ -9,3 +9,6 @@ check_PROGRAMS = $(testprogs)
 # we have nothing but apps here, we can do this safely
 LIBS += $(GST_LIBS)
 CFLAGS += $(GST_CFLAGS)
+
+
+DIST_SUBDIRS = refcounting capsnego
diff --git a/testsuite/capsnego/Makefile.am b/testsuite/capsnego/Makefile.am
index c2ac4395e7..6b1c466c7c 100644
--- a/testsuite/capsnego/Makefile.am
+++ b/testsuite/capsnego/Makefile.am
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-SUBDIRS =
-
 testprogs = capsnego converter converter2 enum
 
 TESTS = $(testprogs)
diff --git a/testsuite/refcounting/Makefile.am b/testsuite/refcounting/Makefile.am
index 51df4da64e..380a773311 100644
--- a/testsuite/refcounting/Makefile.am
+++ b/testsuite/refcounting/Makefile.am
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-SUBDIRS =
-
 testprogs = object element pad element_pad bin thread
 
 object_SOURCES = object.c mem.c
@@ -16,3 +14,4 @@ check_PROGRAMS = $(testprogs)
 # we have nothing but apps here, we can do this safely
 LIBS += $(GST_LIBS)
 CFLAGS += $(GST_CFLAGS)
+