diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 86a2d399..f6f91a4d 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ HAVE_BUILDDEFS = $(shell test -f $(TOPDIR)/include/builddefs && echo yes || echo
 
 ifeq ($(HAVE_BUILDDEFS), yes)
 include $(TOPDIR)/include/builddefs
+else
+export TESTS_DIR = tests
 endif
 
 SRCTAR = $(PKG_NAME)-$(PKG_VERSION).tar.gz
@@ -40,7 +42,6 @@ endif
 LIB_SUBDIRS = include lib
 TOOL_SUBDIRS = ltp src m4 common
 
-export TESTS_DIR = tests
 SUBDIRS = $(LIB_SUBDIRS) $(TOOL_SUBDIRS) $(TESTS_DIR)
 
 default: include/builddefs
diff --git a/include/builddefs.in b/include/builddefs.in
index f762a433..6641209f 100644
--- a/include/builddefs.in
+++ b/include/builddefs.in
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ PKG_VERSION     = @pkg_version@
 PKG_PLATFORM    = @pkg_platform@
 PKG_DISTRIBUTION= @pkg_distribution@
 PKG_LIB_DIR     = $(DESTDIR)@exec_prefix@/@pkg_name@
-
+TESTS_DIR	= tests
 
 CC              = @cc@
 AWK             = @awk@