diff --git a/tests/codes_assert.sh b/tests/codes_assert.sh
index 1bd5c878d..1cebf97f1 100755
--- a/tests/codes_assert.sh
+++ b/tests/codes_assert.sh
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ cat $def_dir/grib2/boot.def > $bootfile
 echo 'assert( year == 1990 );' >> $bootfile
 echo >> $bootfile
 
-export ECCODES_DEFINITION_PATH=$PWD/$tempDir/definitions
+export ECCODES_DEFINITION_PATH=$PWD/$tempDir/definitions:$ECCODES_DEFINITION_PATH
 # This will activate the print statement above
 ${tools_dir}/grib_set -s year=1990 $sample_grib2 /dev/null
 
diff --git a/tests/codes_ecc-1929.sh b/tests/codes_ecc-1929.sh
index c7ed04d3e..ee34f9d91 100755
--- a/tests/codes_ecc-1929.sh
+++ b/tests/codes_ecc-1929.sh
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ cat $def_dir/grib2/boot.def > $bootfile
 echo 'print "DEBUG: [gridType=] [typeOfLevel=]";' >> $bootfile
 echo >> $bootfile
 
-export ECCODES_DEFINITION_PATH=$PWD/$tempDir/definitions
+export ECCODES_DEFINITION_PATH=$PWD/$tempDir/definitions:$ECCODES_DEFINITION_PATH
 # This will activate the print statement above
 ${tools_dir}/grib_get -p edition $sample_grib2 > $tempOut
 grep -q "DEBUG: gridType=regular_ll typeOfLevel=surface" $tempOut