diff --git a/configadmin/src/test/java/org/apache/felix/cm/impl/ConfigurationManagerTest.java b/configadmin/src/test/java/org/apache/felix/cm/impl/ConfigurationManagerTest.java
index 9a26440..390517d 100644
--- a/configadmin/src/test/java/org/apache/felix/cm/impl/ConfigurationManagerTest.java
+++ b/configadmin/src/test/java/org/apache/felix/cm/impl/ConfigurationManagerTest.java
@@ -166,6 +166,9 @@
         final MockBundleContext bundleContext = new MockBundleContext();
         ConfigurationManager configMgr = createConfigurationManager( null );
 
+        // ensure the configuration data goes to target
+        bundleContext.setProperty( "felix.cm.dir", "target/config" );
+        
         // default value is 2
         bundleContext.setProperty( "felix.cm.loglevel", null );
         configMgr.start( bundleContext );