diff --git a/src/libstrongswan/tests/Makefile.am b/src/libstrongswan/tests/Makefile.am
index 6b4ba2c55..eefb400fc 100644
--- a/src/libstrongswan/tests/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/libstrongswan/tests/Makefile.am
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ test_runner_SOURCES = \
 
 test_runner_CFLAGS = \
   -I$(top_srcdir)/src/libstrongswan \
+  -DPLUGINS=\""${s_plugins}\"" \
   @COVERAGE_CFLAGS@ \
   @CHECK_CFLAGS@
 
diff --git a/src/libstrongswan/tests/test_runner.c b/src/libstrongswan/tests/test_runner.c
index 2cce42b27..3a9849ecc 100644
--- a/src/libstrongswan/tests/test_runner.c
+++ b/src/libstrongswan/tests/test_runner.c
@@ -32,6 +32,12 @@ int main()
 
 	library_init(NULL);
 
+	if (!lib->plugins->load(lib->plugins, NULL, PLUGINS))
+	{
+		library_deinit();
+		return EXIT_FAILURE;
+	}
+
 	sr = srunner_create(NULL);
 	srunner_add_suite(sr, bio_reader_suite_create());
 	srunner_add_suite(sr, bio_writer_suite_create());