diff --git a/tests/functionaltests/start_profanity.sh b/tests/functionaltests/start_profanity.sh
index 58ceadd7..5ea37fc6 100755
--- a/tests/functionaltests/start_profanity.sh
+++ b/tests/functionaltests/start_profanity.sh
@@ -1,2 +1,7 @@
 export COLUMNS=300
-./profanity -l DEBUG
+if [ -f "./build_run/profanity" ]; then
+    ./build_run/profanity -l DEBUG
+else
+    # Fallback for autotools
+    ./profanity -l DEBUG
+fi