diff --git a/test/testgen b/test/testgen
index f31586e2a..3534f5821 100644
--- a/test/testgen
+++ b/test/testgen
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ echo problems creating request
 exit 1
 fi
 
-../apps/openssl req -verify -in testreq.pem -noout
+../apps/openssl req -config test.cnf -verify -in testreq.pem -noout
 if [ $? != 0 ]; then
 echo signature on req is wrong
 exit 1
diff --git a/test/testss b/test/testss
index 36c792251..da62997a5 100644
--- a/test/testss
+++ b/test/testss
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ digest='-mdc2'
 reqcmd="../apps/openssl req"
 x509cmd="../apps/openssl x509 $digest"
 verifycmd="../apps/openssl verify"
+dummycnf="../apps/openssl.cnf"
 
 CAkey="keyCA.ss"
 CAcert="certCA.ss"
@@ -39,13 +40,13 @@ if [ $? != 0 ]; then
 	exit 1
 fi
 
-$reqcmd -verify -in $CAreq -noout
+$reqcmd -config $dummycnf -verify -in $CAreq -noout
 if [ $? != 0 ]; then
 	echo first generated request is invalid
 	exit 1
 fi
 
-$reqcmd -verify -in $CAreq2 -noout
+$reqcmd -config $dummycnf -verify -in $CAreq2 -noout
 if [ $? != 0 ]; then
 	echo second generated request is invalid
 	exit 1
diff --git a/test/treq b/test/treq
index ef3c13274..0464c9d90 100644
--- a/test/treq
+++ b/test/treq
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 PATH=../apps:$PATH
 export PATH
 
-cmd='../apps/openssl req'
+cmd='../apps/openssl req -config ../apps/openssl.cnf'
 
 if [ "$1"x != "x" ]; then
 	t=$1