diff --git a/tests/old/testsuite/threads/Makefile.am b/tests/old/testsuite/threads/Makefile.am
index 2c42a6b0e8..574596aa08 100644
--- a/tests/old/testsuite/threads/Makefile.am
+++ b/tests/old/testsuite/threads/Makefile.am
@@ -7,6 +7,10 @@ check_PROGRAMS = $(testprogs)
 
 noinst_PROGRAMS = $(testsfailing)
 
+GST_PLUGIN_PATH=$(shell cd $(top_builddir) && pwd)
+
+TESTS_ENVIRONMENT = GST_PLUGIN_PATH=$(GST_PLUGIN_PATH) GST_REGISTRY=`pwd`test-registry.xml
+
 LDADD = $(GST_LIBS) 
 AM_CFLAGS = $(GST_CFLAGS)
 
diff --git a/testsuite/threads/Makefile.am b/testsuite/threads/Makefile.am
index 2c42a6b0e8..574596aa08 100644
--- a/testsuite/threads/Makefile.am
+++ b/testsuite/threads/Makefile.am
@@ -7,6 +7,10 @@ check_PROGRAMS = $(testprogs)
 
 noinst_PROGRAMS = $(testsfailing)
 
+GST_PLUGIN_PATH=$(shell cd $(top_builddir) && pwd)
+
+TESTS_ENVIRONMENT = GST_PLUGIN_PATH=$(GST_PLUGIN_PATH) GST_REGISTRY=`pwd`test-registry.xml
+
 LDADD = $(GST_LIBS) 
 AM_CFLAGS = $(GST_CFLAGS)