diff --git a/gi/overrides/Gst.py b/gi/overrides/Gst.py
index ae18f579fb..2e5189bd59 100644
--- a/gi/overrides/Gst.py
+++ b/gi/overrides/Gst.py
@@ -566,7 +566,7 @@ def TIME_ARGS(time):
                                   time % Gst.SECOND)
 __all__.append('TIME_ARGS')
 
-import _gi_gst
+from gi.overrides import _gi_gst
 _gi_gst
 
 # maybe more python and less C some day if core turns a bit more introspection
diff --git a/gi/overrides/meson.build b/gi/overrides/meson.build
index 3c5a33d6b3..b2aa334dec 100644
--- a/gi/overrides/meson.build
+++ b/gi/overrides/meson.build
@@ -8,12 +8,3 @@ gstpython = python.extension_module('_gi_gst',
     install_dir : pygi_override_dir,
     include_directories : [configinc],
     dependencies : [gst_dep, python_dep, pygobject_dep])
-
-gi_overrides_build_dir = meson.current_build_dir()
-
-# Workaround to get uninstalled working.
-foreach source: pysources
-    run_command(python, '-c', 'import os; os.symlink("@0@/@1@", "@2@/@3@")'.format(
-        meson.current_source_dir(), source,
-        gi_overrides_build_dir, source))
-endforeach
diff --git a/testsuite/Makefile.am b/testsuite/Makefile.am
index 10b7061fe3..a59fe47591 100644
--- a/testsuite/Makefile.am
+++ b/testsuite/Makefile.am
@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
 # Don't try to use wildcards to replace the list of tests below.
 # http://www.gnu.org/software/automake/manual/automake.html#Wildcards
 # Keep this list sorted!
+
+TEST_ENVIRONMENT = \
+	GST_OVERRIDE_SRC_PATH="$(abs_top_srcdir)/gi/overrides" \
+	GST_OVERRIDE_BUILD_PATH="$(abs_top_builddir)/gi/overrides"
+
 tests =	\
 	test_gst.py \
 	test_types.py
@@ -20,10 +25,10 @@ clean-local:
 	rm -rf *.pyc *.pyo
 
 check-local:
-	$(PYTHON) $(srcdir)/runtests.py $(tests)
+	$(TEST_ENVIRONMENT) $(PYTHON) $(srcdir)/runtests.py $(tests)
 
 %.check: %
-	$(PYTHON) $(srcdir)/runtests.py $*
+	$(TEST_ENVIRONMENT) $(PYTHON) $(srcdir)/runtests.py $*
 %.forever: %
 	$(srcdir)/cleanup.py
 	@while true; do \
diff --git a/testsuite/meson.build b/testsuite/meson.build
index 6fe105ba77..4fb573b411 100644
--- a/testsuite/meson.build
+++ b/testsuite/meson.build
@@ -25,11 +25,10 @@ if runcmd.returncode() != 0
     error('Could not configure testsuite config file.' + runcmd.stderr())
 endif
 
-gi_dir = join_paths(pygi_override_dir, '..', '..')
-
 foreach i: tests
     test_name = i.get(0)
     env = environment()
-    env.prepend('PYTHONPATH', [gi_dir, gi_overrides_build_dir])
+    env.set('GST_OVERRIDE_SRC_PATH', join_paths (meson.current_source_dir(), '..', 'gi', 'overrides'))
+    env.set('GST_OVERRIDE_BUILD_PATH', join_paths (meson.current_build_dir(), '..', 'gi', 'overrides'))
     test(test_name, python, args: [runtests, i.get(1)], env: env)
 endforeach
diff --git a/testsuite/overrides_hack.py b/testsuite/overrides_hack.py
index 9094cfaa9b..6df694d3ff 100644
--- a/testsuite/overrides_hack.py
+++ b/testsuite/overrides_hack.py
@@ -1,32 +1,28 @@
 import os
-import gi.overrides
+import sys
+import imp
 
-try:
-    import mesonconfig
-except ImportError:
-    mesonconfig = None
-    pass
+class GstOverrideImport:
+    def find_module(self, fullname, path=None):
+        if fullname in ('gi.overrides.Gst', 'gi.overrides._gi_gst'):
+            return self
+        return None
 
-FILE = os.path.realpath(__file__)
-if not gi.overrides.__path__[0].endswith("gst-python/gi/overrides"):
-    local_overrides = None
-    # our overrides don't take precedence, let's fix it
-    for i, path in enumerate(gi.overrides.__path__):
-        if path.endswith("gst-python/gi/overrides"):
-            local_overrides = path
+    def load_module(self, name):
+        if name in sys.modules:
+            return sys.modules[name]
 
-    if local_overrides:
-        gi.overrides.__path__.remove(local_overrides)
-    else:
-        local_overrides = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(FILE, "../", "../", "gi", "overrides"))
+        fp, pathname, description = imp.find_module(name.split('.')[-1], [
+            os.environ.get('GST_OVERRIDE_SRC_PATH'),
+            os.environ.get('GST_OVERRIDE_BUILD_PATH'),
+        ])
 
-    gi.overrides.__path__.insert(0, local_overrides)
+        try:
+            module = imp.load_module(name, fp, pathname, description)
+        finally:
+            if fp:
+                fp.close()
+        sys.modules[name] = module
+        return module
 
-if mesonconfig:
-    gi.overrides.__path__.insert(0, os.path.abspath(os.path.join(mesonconfig.path, "gi", "overrides")))
-# Execute previously set sitecustomize.py script if it existed
-if os.environ.get("GST_ENV"):
-    old_sitecustomize = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__),
-                                    "old.sitecustomize.gstuninstalled.py")
-    if os.path.exists(old_sitecustomize):
-        exec(compile(open(old_sitecustomize).read(), old_sitecustomize, 'exec'))
+sys.meta_path.insert(0, GstOverrideImport())