diff --git a/tests/Makefile.am b/tests/Makefile.am
index c962dd81..d323dbaa 100644
--- a/tests/Makefile.am
+++ b/tests/Makefile.am
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ db.sqlite : $(top_srcdir)/src/sql/hydra-sqlite.sql
 
 dirs :
 	mkdir -p data
+	touch data/hydra.conf
 	mkdir -p nix
 	mkdir -p nix/store
 	mkdir -p nix/var