diff --git a/test/test_wrapper.py b/test/test_wrapper.py
index 4dcd118383b2bae223c77895e1cbe4db5050bdb6..1fb3487f0d355d96f1b15d245b8ba966c771f3fb 100644
--- a/test/test_wrapper.py
+++ b/test/test_wrapper.py
@@ -363,6 +363,9 @@ class TestCL:
     def test_header_dep_handling(self, ctx_factory):
         context = ctx_factory()
 
+        from os.path import exists
+        assert exists("empty-header.h") # if this fails, change dir to pyopencl/test
+
         kernel_src = """
         #include <empty-header.h>
         kernel void zonk(global int *a)