diff --git a/.testr.conf b/.testr.conf
index 4f6e0b37d2..95a4fb4d23 100644
--- a/.testr.conf
+++ b/.testr.conf
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ test_command=OS_STDOUT_CAPTURE=${OS_STDOUT_CAPTURE:-1} \
              OS_STDERR_CAPTURE=${OS_STDERR_CAPTURE:-1} \
              OS_TEST_TIMEOUT=${OS_TEST_TIMEOUT:-500} \
              OS_TEST_LOCK_PATH=${OS_TEST_LOCK_PATH:-${TMPDIR:-'/tmp'}} \
-             ${PYTHON:-python} -m subunit.run discover -t ./ ${OS_TEST_PATH:-./tempest/test_discover} $LISTOPT $IDOPTION
+             ${PYTHON:-python} -m subunit.run discover -t ${OS_TOP_LEVEL:-./} ${OS_TEST_PATH:-./tempest/test_discover} $LISTOPT $IDOPTION
 test_id_option=--load-list $IDFILE
 test_list_option=--list
 group_regex=([^\.]*\.)*