diff --git a/tests/Makefile.am b/tests/Makefile.am
index 8d4694ca..28479be4 100644
--- a/tests/Makefile.am
+++ b/tests/Makefile.am
@@ -134,5 +134,5 @@ genfile_SOURCES = genfile.c argcv.c argcv.h
 
 localedir = $(datadir)/locale
 INCLUDES = -I$(top_srcdir)/lib -I../lib -I$(top_srcdir)/src
-
+AM_CPPFLAGS = -DLOCALEDIR=\"$(localedir)\"
 LDADD = ../lib/libtar.a $(LIBINTL) $(LIB_CLOCK_GETTIME)