diff --git a/python/tests/Makefile.am b/python/tests/Makefile.am
index 5cfcac45..c2270ce5 100644
--- a/python/tests/Makefile.am
+++ b/python/tests/Makefile.am
@@ -62,7 +62,8 @@ if WITH_PYTHON
 check-local:
 	@for f in $(XMLS) ; do test -f $$f || $(LN_S) $(srcdir)/$$f . ; done
 	@echo "## running Python regression tests"
-	@(export LD_LIBRARY_PATH="$(top_builddir)/.libs:$$LD_LIBRARY_PATH" ; \
+	@(export PYTHONPATH="..:../.libs:$(srcdir)/..:$$PYTHONPATH" ; \
+	  export LD_LIBRARY_PATH="$(top_builddir)/.libs:$$LD_LIBRARY_PATH" ; \
 	  export DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH="$(top_builddir)/.libs:$$DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH" ; \
 	  export PATH="$(top_builddir)/.libs:$$PATH" ; \
 	  for test in $(PYTESTS) ; do \
diff --git a/python/tests/setup_test.py b/python/tests/setup_test.py
index 84f07b18..f893e56e 100644
--- a/python/tests/setup_test.py
+++ b/python/tests/setup_test.py
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 import os
 import sys
 
-sys.path += ('..', '../.libs')
-
 if hasattr(os, 'add_dll_directory'):
     os.add_dll_directory(os.path.join(os.getcwd(), '..', '..', '.libs'))