diff --git a/test/functional/test_framework/test_framework.py b/test/functional/test_framework/test_framework.py
index e912dcbaff..3832f04ecd 100755
--- a/test/functional/test_framework/test_framework.py
+++ b/test/functional/test_framework/test_framework.py
@@ -115,6 +115,8 @@ class BitcoinTestFramework(object):
                           help="The seed to use for assigning port numbers (default: current process id)")
         parser.add_option("--coveragedir", dest="coveragedir",
                           help="Write tested RPC commands into this directory")
+        parser.add_option("--configfile", dest="configfile",
+                          help="Location of the test framework config file")
         self.add_options(parser)
         (self.options, self.args) = parser.parse_args()
 
diff --git a/test/functional/test_runner.py b/test/functional/test_runner.py
index 0996b1bc20..965fe9ad7f 100755
--- a/test/functional/test_runner.py
+++ b/test/functional/test_runner.py
@@ -178,7 +178,10 @@ def main():
 
     # Read config generated by configure.
     config = configparser.ConfigParser()
-    config.read_file(open(os.path.dirname(__file__) + "/config.ini"))
+    configfile = os.path.abspath(os.path.dirname(__file__)) + "/config.ini"
+    config.read_file(open(configfile))
+
+    passon_args.append("--configfile=%s" % configfile)
 
     # Set up logging
     logging_level = logging.INFO if args.quiet else logging.DEBUG
diff --git a/test/functional/zmq_test.py b/test/functional/zmq_test.py
index a72630406e..918e13bcd4 100755
--- a/test/functional/zmq_test.py
+++ b/test/functional/zmq_test.py
@@ -29,7 +29,9 @@ class ZMQTest (BitcoinTestFramework):
 
         # Check that bitcoin has been built with ZMQ enabled
         config = configparser.ConfigParser()
-        config.read_file(open(os.path.dirname(__file__) + "/config.ini"))
+        if not self.options.configfile:
+            self.options.configfile = os.path.dirname(__file__) + "/config.ini"
+        config.read_file(open(self.options.configfile))
 
         if not config["components"].getboolean("ENABLE_ZMQ"):
             self.log.warning("bitcoind has not been built with zmq enabled. Skipping zmq tests!")