diff --git a/lib/prepare.js b/lib/prepare.js
index bb97c400ea..a082bf2d84 100644
--- a/lib/prepare.js
+++ b/lib/prepare.js
@@ -553,9 +553,17 @@ function updateProjectSplashScreenImage (locations, themeKey, cdvConfigPrefKey,
     let possiblePreviousDestFilePath = path.join(destPngDir, destFileName + '.png');
 
     // Default Drawable Source File
-    const defaultSrcFilePath = themeKey !== 'windowSplashScreenBrandingImage'
-        ? require.resolve('cordova-android/templates/project/res/drawable/' + destFileNameExt)
-        : null;
+    let defaultSrcFilePath = null;
+
+    if (themeKey !== 'windowSplashScreenBrandingImage') {
+        try {
+            // coming from user project
+            defaultSrcFilePath = require.resolve('cordova-android/templates/project/res/drawable/' + destFileNameExt);
+        } catch (e) {
+            // coming from repo test & coho
+            defaultSrcFilePath = require.resolve('../templates/project/res/drawable/' + destFileNameExt);
+        }
+    }
 
     if (!cdvConfigPrefValue || !fs.existsSync(cdvConfigPrefValue)) {
         let emitType = 'verbose';