diff --git a/public/java/test/org/broadinstitute/sting/BaseTest.java b/public/java/test/org/broadinstitute/sting/BaseTest.java
index 3e3cf65f2..912ced2be 100755
--- a/public/java/test/org/broadinstitute/sting/BaseTest.java
+++ b/public/java/test/org/broadinstitute/sting/BaseTest.java
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ public abstract class BaseTest {
     protected static final String testDirRelative = "public/testdata/";
     public static final File testDirFile = new File(testDirRelative);
     public static final String testDir = testDirFile.getAbsolutePath() + "/";
-    protected static final String testDirRoot = testDirFile.getPath().replace(testDirRelative, "");
+    protected static final String testDirRoot = testDir.replace(testDirRelative, "");
 
     public static final String keysDataLocation = validationDataLocation + "keys/";
     public static final String gatkKeyFile = CryptUtils.GATK_USER_KEY_DIRECTORY + "gsamembers_broadinstitute.org.key";