diff --git a/tests/check/Makefile.am b/tests/check/Makefile.am
index 21ee07f26b..93542c75f3 100644
--- a/tests/check/Makefile.am
+++ b/tests/check/Makefile.am
@@ -11,7 +11,9 @@ TESTS_ENVIRONMENT = \
         STATE_IGNORE_ELEMENTS="$(STATE_IGNORE_ELEMENTS)"	\
 	$(REGISTRY_ENVIRONMENT)					\
 	GST_PLUGIN_SYSTEM_PATH=					\
-	GST_PLUGIN_PATH=$(top_builddir)/gst:$(top_builddir)/sys:$(top_builddir)/ext:$(GST_PLUGINS_DIR)
+	GST_PLUGIN_PATH=$(top_builddir)/gst:$(top_builddir)/sys:$(top_builddir)/ext:$(GST_PLUGINS_DIR) \
+	GST_PLUGIN_LOADING_WHITELIST="gstreamer:gst-plugins-base@$(top_builddir)"
+
 
 # ths core dumps of some machines have PIDs appended
 CLEANFILES = core.* test-registry.*