diff --git a/tests/src/python/utilities.py b/tests/src/python/utilities.py
index 8b57438e62db..e8ec45a7f3b6 100644
--- a/tests/src/python/utilities.py
+++ b/tests/src/python/utilities.py
@@ -67,8 +67,25 @@ def getQgisTestApp():
 
     if QGISAPP is None:
         myGuiFlag = True  # All test will run qgis in gui mode
-
         QGISAPP = QgsApplication(sys.argv, myGuiFlag)
+        # Note: QGIS_PREFIX_PATH is set by cmake to the output dir
+        if 'QGIS_PREFIX_PATH' in os.environ:
+            myPath = os.environ['QGIS_PREFIX_PATH']
+            myUseDefaultPathFlag = True
+            QGISAPP.setPrefixPath(myPath, myUseDefaultPathFlag)
+
+        if sys.platform.startswith('darwin'):
+            # override resource paths, otherwise looks for Resources in app
+            if 'QGIS_MAC_PKGDATA_DIR' in os.environ:
+                myPkgPath = os.environ['QGIS_MAC_PKGDATA_DIR']
+                QGISAPP.setPkgDataPath(myPkgPath)
+            if 'QGIS_MAC_SVG_DIR'  in os.environ:
+                mySVGPath = os.environ['QGIS_MAC_SVG_DIR']
+                mySVGPaths = QGISAPP.svgPaths()
+                # doesn't get rid of incorrect path, just adds correct one
+                mySVGPaths.prepend(mySVGPath)
+                QGISAPP.setDefaultSvgPaths(mySVGPaths)
+
         QGISAPP.initQgis()
         s = QGISAPP.showSettings()
         print s