diff --git a/cadc-access-control-server/src/test/java/ca/nrc/cadc/ac/server/ldap/AbstractLdapDAOTest.java b/cadc-access-control-server/src/test/java/ca/nrc/cadc/ac/server/ldap/AbstractLdapDAOTest.java
index 7c14a87ec444a249c7dda57a5bddb452e03ee9e0..592b6b12a5511e768f8beee976b5688820ff9aed 100644
--- a/cadc-access-control-server/src/test/java/ca/nrc/cadc/ac/server/ldap/AbstractLdapDAOTest.java
+++ b/cadc-access-control-server/src/test/java/ca/nrc/cadc/ac/server/ldap/AbstractLdapDAOTest.java
@@ -67,23 +67,24 @@
 
 package ca.nrc.cadc.ac.server.ldap;
 
+import java.lang.reflect.Field;
+import java.util.NoSuchElementException;
+
+import javax.security.auth.Subject;
+import javax.security.auth.x500.X500Principal;
+
+import org.apache.log4j.Level;
+import org.apache.log4j.Logger;
+import org.junit.BeforeClass;
+
 import ca.nrc.cadc.ac.PersonalDetails;
 import ca.nrc.cadc.ac.User;
 import ca.nrc.cadc.ac.UserNotFoundException;
 import ca.nrc.cadc.ac.UserRequest;
 import ca.nrc.cadc.auth.DNPrincipal;
 import ca.nrc.cadc.auth.HttpPrincipal;
-import ca.nrc.cadc.auth.NumericPrincipal;
 import ca.nrc.cadc.util.Log4jInit;
-import org.apache.log4j.Level;
-import org.apache.log4j.Logger;
-import org.junit.BeforeClass;
-
-import javax.security.auth.Subject;
-import javax.security.auth.x500.X500Principal;
-import java.lang.reflect.Field;
-import java.util.UUID;
-import java.util.NoSuchElementException;
+import ca.nrc.cadc.util.PropertiesReader;
 
 /**
  * Created by jburke on 2014-11-03.
@@ -132,6 +133,8 @@ public class AbstractLdapDAOTest
     {
         Log4jInit.setLevel("ca.nrc.cadc.ac", Level.DEBUG);
 
+        System.setProperty(PropertiesReader.class.getName() + ".dir", "src/test/resources");
+
         // get the configuration of the development server from and config files...
         try
         {
diff --git a/cadc-access-control-server/src/test/java/ca/nrc/cadc/ac/server/ldap/LdapDAOTest.java b/cadc-access-control-server/src/test/java/ca/nrc/cadc/ac/server/ldap/LdapDAOTest.java
index 2e99e8a2c67379c320a63b8c46901160c2ef0c7f..db2db5e5e32c8b7202a458d9a2ccac7b6b564ea7 100644
--- a/cadc-access-control-server/src/test/java/ca/nrc/cadc/ac/server/ldap/LdapDAOTest.java
+++ b/cadc-access-control-server/src/test/java/ca/nrc/cadc/ac/server/ldap/LdapDAOTest.java
@@ -68,34 +68,42 @@
 
 package ca.nrc.cadc.ac.server.ldap;
 
-import ca.nrc.cadc.auth.DNPrincipal;
-import ca.nrc.cadc.auth.HttpPrincipal;
-import ca.nrc.cadc.auth.NumericPrincipal;
-import ca.nrc.cadc.util.Log4jInit;
-import com.unboundid.ldap.sdk.DN;
-import com.unboundid.ldap.sdk.LDAPConnection;
-import com.unboundid.ldap.sdk.LDAPException;
-import com.unboundid.ldap.sdk.LDAPInterface;
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertTrue;
 
-import java.security.PrivilegedAction;
-import org.apache.log4j.Level;
-import org.junit.BeforeClass;
-import org.junit.Test;
+import java.security.PrivilegedExceptionAction;
+import java.util.UUID;
 
 import javax.security.auth.Subject;
 import javax.security.auth.x500.X500Principal;
-import java.security.PrivilegedExceptionAction;
-import java.util.UUID;
 
-import org.junit.Assert;
+import org.apache.log4j.Level;
+import org.junit.AfterClass;
+import org.junit.BeforeClass;
+import org.junit.Test;
 
-import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
-import static org.junit.Assert.assertNotNull;
-import static org.junit.Assert.assertTrue;
+import com.unboundid.ldap.sdk.LDAPConnection;
+
+import ca.nrc.cadc.auth.HttpPrincipal;
+import ca.nrc.cadc.auth.NumericPrincipal;
+import ca.nrc.cadc.util.Log4jInit;
+import ca.nrc.cadc.util.PropertiesReader;
 
 
 public class LdapDAOTest extends AbstractLdapDAOTest
 {
+    @BeforeClass
+    public static void setUpClass()
+    {
+        Log4jInit.setLevel("ca.nrc.cadc.ac", Level.INFO);
+        System.setProperty(PropertiesReader.class.getName() + ".dir", "src/test/resources");
+    }
+
+    @AfterClass
+    public static void teardownClass()
+    {
+        System.clearProperty(PropertiesReader.class.getName() + ".dir");
+    }
+
     @Test
     public void testLdapBindConnection() throws Exception
     {
diff --git a/cadc-access-control-server/src/test/java/ca/nrc/cadc/ac/server/ldap/LdapGroupDAOTest.java b/cadc-access-control-server/src/test/java/ca/nrc/cadc/ac/server/ldap/LdapGroupDAOTest.java
index 62ac75804def5bf98a134b007d66b0f998f586f6..2390292e35b097f379a52a646b602935e18448b2 100644
--- a/cadc-access-control-server/src/test/java/ca/nrc/cadc/ac/server/ldap/LdapGroupDAOTest.java
+++ b/cadc-access-control-server/src/test/java/ca/nrc/cadc/ac/server/ldap/LdapGroupDAOTest.java
@@ -77,19 +77,37 @@ import java.util.Collection;
 
 import javax.security.auth.Subject;
 
+import org.apache.log4j.Level;
 import org.apache.log4j.Logger;
+import org.junit.AfterClass;
 import org.junit.Assert;
+import org.junit.BeforeClass;
 import org.junit.Test;
 
 import ca.nrc.cadc.ac.Group;
 import ca.nrc.cadc.ac.GroupNotFoundException;
 import ca.nrc.cadc.ac.GroupProperty;
 import ca.nrc.cadc.ac.User;
+import ca.nrc.cadc.util.Log4jInit;
+import ca.nrc.cadc.util.PropertiesReader;
 
 public class LdapGroupDAOTest extends AbstractLdapDAOTest
 {
     private static final Logger log = Logger.getLogger(LdapGroupDAOTest.class);
 
+    @BeforeClass
+    public static void setUpClass()
+    {
+        Log4jInit.setLevel("ca.nrc.cadc.ac", Level.INFO);
+        System.setProperty(PropertiesReader.class.getName() + ".dir", "src/test/resources");
+    }
+
+    @AfterClass
+    public static void teardownClass()
+    {
+        System.clearProperty(PropertiesReader.class.getName() + ".dir");
+    }
+
     LdapGroupDAO getGroupDAO() throws Exception
     {
         LdapConnections connections = new LdapConnections(config);
diff --git a/cadc-access-control-server/src/test/java/ca/nrc/cadc/ac/server/ldap/LdapUserDAOTest.java b/cadc-access-control-server/src/test/java/ca/nrc/cadc/ac/server/ldap/LdapUserDAOTest.java
index 3dcb390f7932721071798cfd9a1b4b0b1f2f88b4..a7b6069aac4f294d51ae4d87647d6fcde0cfa2a3 100644
--- a/cadc-access-control-server/src/test/java/ca/nrc/cadc/ac/server/ldap/LdapUserDAOTest.java
+++ b/cadc-access-control-server/src/test/java/ca/nrc/cadc/ac/server/ldap/LdapUserDAOTest.java
@@ -84,7 +84,10 @@ import java.util.Collection;
 import javax.security.auth.Subject;
 import javax.security.auth.x500.X500Principal;
 
+import org.apache.log4j.Level;
 import org.apache.log4j.Logger;
+import org.junit.AfterClass;
+import org.junit.BeforeClass;
 import org.junit.Test;
 
 import ca.nrc.cadc.ac.PersonalDetails;
@@ -96,9 +99,25 @@ import ca.nrc.cadc.auth.DNPrincipal;
 import ca.nrc.cadc.auth.HttpPrincipal;
 import ca.nrc.cadc.auth.NumericPrincipal;
 import ca.nrc.cadc.auth.SSLUtil;
+import ca.nrc.cadc.util.Log4jInit;
+import ca.nrc.cadc.util.PropertiesReader;
 
 public class LdapUserDAOTest extends AbstractLdapDAOTest
 {
+
+    @BeforeClass
+    public static void setUpClass()
+    {
+        Log4jInit.setLevel("ca.nrc.cadc.ac", Level.INFO);
+        System.setProperty(PropertiesReader.class.getName() + ".dir", "src/test/resources");
+    }
+
+    @AfterClass
+    public static void teardownClass()
+    {
+        System.clearProperty(PropertiesReader.class.getName() + ".dir");
+    }
+
     private static final Logger log = Logger.getLogger(LdapUserDAOTest.class);
 
     String createUsername()
diff --git a/cadc-access-control-server/src/test/java/ca/nrc/cadc/ac/server/web/ModifyPasswordServletTest.java b/cadc-access-control-server/src/test/java/ca/nrc/cadc/ac/server/web/ModifyPasswordServletTest.java
index ae310c14fae13ac99398bac4e6929ffadfddbdf9..ff87ffcb7e38209fd042847b9ae0965d61a946c8 100644
--- a/cadc-access-control-server/src/test/java/ca/nrc/cadc/ac/server/web/ModifyPasswordServletTest.java
+++ b/cadc-access-control-server/src/test/java/ca/nrc/cadc/ac/server/web/ModifyPasswordServletTest.java
@@ -83,11 +83,14 @@ import javax.servlet.http.HttpServletRequest;
 import javax.servlet.http.HttpServletResponse;
 
 import org.apache.log4j.Level;
+import org.junit.AfterClass;
+import org.junit.BeforeClass;
 import org.junit.Test;
 
 import ca.nrc.cadc.ac.server.UserPersistence;
 import ca.nrc.cadc.auth.HttpPrincipal;
 import ca.nrc.cadc.util.Log4jInit;
+import ca.nrc.cadc.util.PropertiesReader;
 import ca.nrc.cadc.util.StringUtil;
 
 
@@ -99,6 +102,18 @@ public class ModifyPasswordServletTest
         Log4jInit.setLevel("ca.nrc.cadc.ac", Level.INFO);
     }
 
+    @BeforeClass
+    public static void setUpClass()
+    {
+        System.setProperty(PropertiesReader.class.getName() + ".dir", "src/test/resources");
+    }
+
+    @AfterClass
+    public static void teardownClass()
+    {
+        System.clearProperty(PropertiesReader.class.getName() + ".dir");
+    }
+
     public void testSubjectAndPasswords(final Subject subject, final String oldPassword,
             final String newPassword, int responseStatus) throws Exception
     {
diff --git a/cadc-access-control-server/src/test/java/ca/nrc/cadc/ac/server/web/ResetPasswordServletTest.java b/cadc-access-control-server/src/test/java/ca/nrc/cadc/ac/server/web/ResetPasswordServletTest.java
index 0273c031e38365e0994eaa7f2b33287222457557..a98b6c4313ff6fb2bfeb566aef2367781e350820 100644
--- a/cadc-access-control-server/src/test/java/ca/nrc/cadc/ac/server/web/ResetPasswordServletTest.java
+++ b/cadc-access-control-server/src/test/java/ca/nrc/cadc/ac/server/web/ResetPasswordServletTest.java
@@ -83,6 +83,8 @@ import javax.servlet.ServletException;
 import javax.servlet.http.HttpServletRequest;
 import javax.servlet.http.HttpServletResponse;
 
+import org.junit.AfterClass;
+import org.junit.BeforeClass;
 import org.junit.Test;
 
 import ca.nrc.cadc.ac.UserAlreadyExistsException;
@@ -90,6 +92,7 @@ import ca.nrc.cadc.ac.UserNotFoundException;
 import ca.nrc.cadc.ac.server.UserPersistence;
 import ca.nrc.cadc.ac.server.ldap.LdapUserDAO;
 import ca.nrc.cadc.auth.HttpPrincipal;
+import ca.nrc.cadc.util.PropertiesReader;
 import ca.nrc.cadc.util.StringUtil;
 
 
@@ -97,6 +100,18 @@ public class ResetPasswordServletTest
 {
     private static final String EMAIL_ADDRESS = "email@canada.ca";
 
+    @BeforeClass
+    public static void setupClass()
+    {
+        System.setProperty(PropertiesReader.class.getName() + ".dir", "src/test/resources");
+    }
+
+    @AfterClass
+    public static void teardownClass()
+    {
+        System.clearProperty(PropertiesReader.class.getName() + ".dir");
+    }
+
     public void testSubjectAndEmailAddress(final Subject subject, final String emailAddress,
             int responseStatus) throws Exception
     {
diff --git a/cadc-access-control-server/src/test/java/ca/nrc/cadc/ac/server/web/UserServletTest.java b/cadc-access-control-server/src/test/java/ca/nrc/cadc/ac/server/web/UserServletTest.java
index da1815dc98d17485330e3fb9423719240595e4b1..ad8243908b91ff78cd03bd069ef09ecb37584a2e 100644
--- a/cadc-access-control-server/src/test/java/ca/nrc/cadc/ac/server/web/UserServletTest.java
+++ b/cadc-access-control-server/src/test/java/ca/nrc/cadc/ac/server/web/UserServletTest.java
@@ -13,17 +13,18 @@ import javax.security.auth.Subject;
 import javax.servlet.ServletConfig;
 import javax.servlet.http.HttpServletRequest;
 
-import junit.framework.Assert;
-
 import org.apache.log4j.Level;
 import org.apache.log4j.Logger;
 import org.easymock.EasyMock;
+import org.junit.AfterClass;
+import org.junit.BeforeClass;
 import org.junit.Test;
 
 import ca.nrc.cadc.ac.server.PluginFactory;
 import ca.nrc.cadc.db.StandaloneContextFactory;
 import ca.nrc.cadc.util.Log4jInit;
 import ca.nrc.cadc.util.PropertiesReader;
+import junit.framework.Assert;
 
 
 public class UserServletTest
@@ -35,6 +36,18 @@ public class UserServletTest
         Log4jInit.setLevel("ca.nrc.cadc.ac", Level.INFO);
     }
 
+    @BeforeClass
+    public static void setupClass()
+    {
+        System.setProperty(PropertiesReader.class.getName() + ".dir", "src/test/resources");
+    }
+
+    @AfterClass
+    public static void teardownClass()
+    {
+        System.clearProperty(PropertiesReader.class.getName() + ".dir");
+    }
+
     @Test
     public void getAcceptedContentTypeJSON() throws Exception
     {
diff --git a/cadc-access-control-server/src/test/java/ca/nrc/cadc/ac/server/web/WhoAmIServletTest.java b/cadc-access-control-server/src/test/java/ca/nrc/cadc/ac/server/web/WhoAmIServletTest.java
index ff7df8ebda7d1c16a077dee907ca460f5d3cf276..655eb6d9792efc46bf77e43042de559a2af1716b 100644
--- a/cadc-access-control-server/src/test/java/ca/nrc/cadc/ac/server/web/WhoAmIServletTest.java
+++ b/cadc-access-control-server/src/test/java/ca/nrc/cadc/ac/server/web/WhoAmIServletTest.java
@@ -82,19 +82,19 @@ import javax.security.auth.Subject;
 import javax.servlet.http.HttpServletRequest;
 import javax.servlet.http.HttpServletResponse;
 
-import ca.nrc.cadc.ac.server.web.groups.AddUserMemberActionTest;
-import ca.nrc.cadc.auth.AuthMethod;
-import ca.nrc.cadc.reg.Standards;
-
 import org.apache.log4j.Level;
 import org.apache.log4j.Logger;
+import org.junit.AfterClass;
 import org.junit.BeforeClass;
 import org.junit.Test;
 
+import ca.nrc.cadc.auth.AuthMethod;
 import ca.nrc.cadc.auth.HttpPrincipal;
+import ca.nrc.cadc.reg.Standards;
 import ca.nrc.cadc.reg.client.LocalAuthority;
 import ca.nrc.cadc.reg.client.RegistryClient;
 import ca.nrc.cadc.util.Log4jInit;
+import ca.nrc.cadc.util.PropertiesReader;
 
 
 public class WhoAmIServletTest
@@ -105,6 +105,13 @@ public class WhoAmIServletTest
     public static void setUpClass()
     {
         Log4jInit.setLevel("ca.nrc.cadc.ac", Level.INFO);
+        System.setProperty(PropertiesReader.class.getName() + ".dir", "src/test/resources");
+    }
+
+    @AfterClass
+    public static void teardownClass()
+    {
+        System.clearProperty(PropertiesReader.class.getName() + ".dir");
     }
 
     @Test
diff --git a/cadc-access-control-server/src/test/java/ca/nrc/cadc/ac/server/web/groups/RemoveUserMemberActionTest.java b/cadc-access-control-server/src/test/java/ca/nrc/cadc/ac/server/web/groups/RemoveUserMemberActionTest.java
index 5647059b751b5676cfb33c83bbac35c0a60b5d7b..c41e3437e0f8aa00dc55e0c08de29035216dfb05 100644
--- a/cadc-access-control-server/src/test/java/ca/nrc/cadc/ac/server/web/groups/RemoveUserMemberActionTest.java
+++ b/cadc-access-control-server/src/test/java/ca/nrc/cadc/ac/server/web/groups/RemoveUserMemberActionTest.java
@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@ import javax.security.auth.x500.X500Principal;
 import org.apache.log4j.Level;
 import org.apache.log4j.Logger;
 import org.easymock.EasyMock;
+import org.junit.AfterClass;
 import org.junit.BeforeClass;
 import org.junit.Test;
 
@@ -96,6 +97,7 @@ import ca.nrc.cadc.reg.Standards;
 import ca.nrc.cadc.reg.client.LocalAuthority;
 import ca.nrc.cadc.util.Log4jInit;
 import ca.nrc.cadc.util.ObjectUtil;
+import ca.nrc.cadc.util.PropertiesReader;
 
 /**
  *
@@ -109,6 +111,13 @@ public class RemoveUserMemberActionTest
     public static void setUpClass()
     {
         Log4jInit.setLevel("ca.nrc.cadc.ac", Level.INFO);
+        System.setProperty(PropertiesReader.class.getName() + ".dir", "src/test/resources");
+    }
+
+    @AfterClass
+    public static void teardownClass()
+    {
+        System.clearProperty(PropertiesReader.class.getName() + ".dir");
     }
 
     @Test
diff --git a/cadc-access-control-server/src/test/java/ca/nrc/cadc/ac/server/web/users/GetUserActionTest.java b/cadc-access-control-server/src/test/java/ca/nrc/cadc/ac/server/web/users/GetUserActionTest.java
index 70493c2d9b528b93a7c9158bfd36947b1c15c251..ee32f979238e0817bc5b73c0233fbb5c9cebb455 100644
--- a/cadc-access-control-server/src/test/java/ca/nrc/cadc/ac/server/web/users/GetUserActionTest.java
+++ b/cadc-access-control-server/src/test/java/ca/nrc/cadc/ac/server/web/users/GetUserActionTest.java
@@ -78,7 +78,6 @@ import java.io.PrintWriter;
 import java.io.StringWriter;
 import java.io.Writer;
 import java.security.PrivilegedExceptionAction;
-import java.util.Set;
 import java.util.UUID;
 
 import javax.security.auth.Subject;
@@ -87,6 +86,8 @@ import javax.servlet.http.HttpServletResponse;
 
 import org.apache.log4j.Level;
 import org.apache.log4j.Logger;
+import org.junit.AfterClass;
+import org.junit.BeforeClass;
 import org.junit.Test;
 
 import ca.nrc.cadc.ac.PersonalDetails;
@@ -99,6 +100,7 @@ import ca.nrc.cadc.ac.xml.UserWriter;
 import ca.nrc.cadc.auth.HttpPrincipal;
 import ca.nrc.cadc.auth.NumericPrincipal;
 import ca.nrc.cadc.util.Log4jInit;
+import ca.nrc.cadc.util.PropertiesReader;
 
 public class GetUserActionTest
 {
@@ -109,6 +111,18 @@ public class GetUserActionTest
         Log4jInit.setLevel("ca.nrc.cadc.ac.server", Level.INFO);
     }
 
+    @BeforeClass
+    public static void setupClass()
+    {
+        System.setProperty(PropertiesReader.class.getName() + ".dir", "src/test/resources");
+    }
+
+    @AfterClass
+    public static void teardownClass()
+    {
+        System.clearProperty(PropertiesReader.class.getName() + ".dir");
+    }
+
     @Test
     public void writeUserXML() throws Exception
     {
diff --git a/cadc-access-control-server/src/test/java/ca/nrc/cadc/ac/server/web/users/GetUserListActionTest.java b/cadc-access-control-server/src/test/java/ca/nrc/cadc/ac/server/web/users/GetUserListActionTest.java
index b1c0edf1a443fd1b92b6b2068d18242a723d6dd9..84e7cf0f4d3e8fc37a869f0de265915252971340 100644
--- a/cadc-access-control-server/src/test/java/ca/nrc/cadc/ac/server/web/users/GetUserListActionTest.java
+++ b/cadc-access-control-server/src/test/java/ca/nrc/cadc/ac/server/web/users/GetUserListActionTest.java
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.List;
 
 import org.apache.log4j.Level;
+import org.junit.AfterClass;
 import org.junit.BeforeClass;
 import org.junit.Test;
 import org.skyscreamer.jsonassert.JSONAssert;
@@ -95,6 +96,7 @@ import ca.nrc.cadc.ac.server.web.SyncOutput;
 import ca.nrc.cadc.ac.xml.UserListWriter;
 import ca.nrc.cadc.auth.HttpPrincipal;
 import ca.nrc.cadc.util.Log4jInit;
+import ca.nrc.cadc.util.PropertiesReader;
 
 /**
  *
@@ -106,6 +108,13 @@ public class GetUserListActionTest
     public static void setUpClass()
     {
         Log4jInit.setLevel("ca.nrc.cadc.ac", Level.INFO);
+        System.setProperty(PropertiesReader.class.getName() + ".dir", "src/test/resources");
+    }
+
+    @AfterClass
+    public static void teardownClass()
+    {
+        System.clearProperty(PropertiesReader.class.getName() + ".dir");
     }
 
     @Test
diff --git a/cadc-access-control-server/src/test/java/ca/nrc/cadc/ac/server/web/users/ModifyUserActionTest.java b/cadc-access-control-server/src/test/java/ca/nrc/cadc/ac/server/web/users/ModifyUserActionTest.java
index a082d0012eb4aef6ffce3a9168c03c2cb98f7fea..6797c6190cde249952f7ed023a4c7059a0a666dc 100644
--- a/cadc-access-control-server/src/test/java/ca/nrc/cadc/ac/server/web/users/ModifyUserActionTest.java
+++ b/cadc-access-control-server/src/test/java/ca/nrc/cadc/ac/server/web/users/ModifyUserActionTest.java
@@ -80,7 +80,10 @@ import java.security.Principal;
 
 import javax.servlet.http.HttpServletRequest;
 
+import org.apache.log4j.Level;
 import org.easymock.EasyMock;
+import org.junit.AfterClass;
+import org.junit.BeforeClass;
 import org.junit.Test;
 
 import ca.nrc.cadc.ac.PersonalDetails;
@@ -89,9 +92,25 @@ import ca.nrc.cadc.ac.json.JsonUserWriter;
 import ca.nrc.cadc.ac.server.UserPersistence;
 import ca.nrc.cadc.ac.server.web.SyncOutput;
 import ca.nrc.cadc.auth.HttpPrincipal;
+import ca.nrc.cadc.util.Log4jInit;
+import ca.nrc.cadc.util.PropertiesReader;
 
 public class ModifyUserActionTest
 {
+
+    @BeforeClass
+    public static void setUpClass()
+    {
+        Log4jInit.setLevel("ca.nrc.cadc.ac", Level.INFO);
+        System.setProperty(PropertiesReader.class.getName() + ".dir", "src/test/resources");
+    }
+
+    @AfterClass
+    public static void teardownClass()
+    {
+        System.clearProperty(PropertiesReader.class.getName() + ".dir");
+    }
+
     @Test
     public void testModifyUser() throws Exception
     {
diff --git a/cadc-access-control-server/src/test/java/ca/nrc/cadc/ac/server/web/users/UserActionFactoryTest.java b/cadc-access-control-server/src/test/java/ca/nrc/cadc/ac/server/web/users/UserActionFactoryTest.java
index a705944eb520913f48b6135d09629181dbdb6ec5..cd8c6a8d6999d6b5819510a4f3b7c40de58147f3 100644
--- a/cadc-access-control-server/src/test/java/ca/nrc/cadc/ac/server/web/users/UserActionFactoryTest.java
+++ b/cadc-access-control-server/src/test/java/ca/nrc/cadc/ac/server/web/users/UserActionFactoryTest.java
@@ -72,10 +72,13 @@ import javax.servlet.http.HttpServletRequest;
 import org.apache.log4j.Level;
 import org.apache.log4j.Logger;
 import org.easymock.EasyMock;
+import org.junit.AfterClass;
 import org.junit.Assert;
+import org.junit.BeforeClass;
 import org.junit.Test;
 
 import ca.nrc.cadc.util.Log4jInit;
+import ca.nrc.cadc.util.PropertiesReader;
 
 
 public class UserActionFactoryTest
@@ -87,6 +90,18 @@ public class UserActionFactoryTest
         Log4jInit.setLevel("ca.nrc.cadc.ac", Level.INFO);
     }
 
+    @BeforeClass
+    public static void setUpClass()
+    {
+        System.setProperty(PropertiesReader.class.getName() + ".dir", "src/test/resources");
+    }
+
+    @AfterClass
+    public static void teardownClass()
+    {
+        System.clearProperty(PropertiesReader.class.getName() + ".dir");
+    }
+
     @Test
     public void testCreateUserAction()
     {