diff --git a/tests/CMakeLists.txt b/tests/CMakeLists.txt
index 3a42ef59..30781ce3 100755
--- a/tests/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/tests/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,11 @@
 include(${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/submodules/catch2.cmake)
 
+set(TEST_DATA_DIR "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/test_data")
+configure_file(test_config.hpp.in test_config.hpp)
+
+# working directory for tests containing misc. outputs
+file(MAKE_DIRECTORY "${PROJECT_BINARY_DIR}/test_data_out")
+
 # --- unit tests ---
 function(add_adm_test name)
   add_executable(${name} ${name}.cpp)
@@ -10,18 +16,16 @@ function(add_adm_test name)
   )
   target_include_directories(${name} PRIVATE
     ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/submodules
+    # for including test_config.h
+    ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}
   )
   add_test(
     NAME ${name}
     COMMAND $<TARGET_FILE:${name}>
-    WORKING_DIRECTORY "${PROJECT_BINARY_DIR}/test_data"
+    WORKING_DIRECTORY "${PROJECT_BINARY_DIR}/test_data_out"
   )
 endfunction()
 
-# copy test files so unit test can find them relative to their running location
-# when executed as "test" target
-file(COPY "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/test_data" DESTINATION ${PROJECT_BINARY_DIR})
-
 add_adm_test("adm_auto_parenting_tests")
 add_adm_test("adm_common_definitions_tests")
 add_adm_test("adm_document_tests")
diff --git a/tests/helper/file_comparator.hpp b/tests/helper/file_comparator.hpp
index 847fcc02..81d43910 100644
--- a/tests/helper/file_comparator.hpp
+++ b/tests/helper/file_comparator.hpp
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #include <fstream>
 #include <string>
 #include <streambuf>
+#include "test_config.hpp"
 
 class FileComparator : public Catch::MatcherBase<std::string> {
  public:
@@ -11,7 +12,8 @@ class FileComparator : public Catch::MatcherBase<std::string> {
 
   virtual bool match(const std::string& received) const override {
     bool check_successful = false;
-    std::ifstream acceptedFile(filename_ + ".accepted." + extension_);
+    std::ifstream acceptedFile(
+        data_file(filename_ + ".accepted." + extension_));
     if (acceptedFile.is_open()) {
       std::string acceptedStr((std::istreambuf_iterator<char>(acceptedFile)),
                               std::istreambuf_iterator<char>());
diff --git a/tests/test_config.hpp.in b/tests/test_config.hpp.in
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8c65747a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_config.hpp.in
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+#pragma once
+#include <string>
+
+#cmakedefine TEST_DATA_DIR "${TEST_DATA_DIR}"
+
+inline std::string data_file(const std::string &fname) {
+  // use macro form so we get an error if it's not defined in cmake
+  return TEST_DATA_DIR "/" + fname;
+}
diff --git a/tests/xml_parser_audio_block_format_direct_speakers_tests.cpp b/tests/xml_parser_audio_block_format_direct_speakers_tests.cpp
index 09447b12..86e89485 100644
--- a/tests/xml_parser_audio_block_format_direct_speakers_tests.cpp
+++ b/tests/xml_parser_audio_block_format_direct_speakers_tests.cpp
@@ -4,10 +4,12 @@
 #include "adm/elements/audio_channel_format.hpp"
 #include "adm/parse.hpp"
 #include "adm/errors.hpp"
+#include "test_config.hpp"
 
 TEST_CASE("xml_parser/audio_block_format_direct_speakers") {
   using namespace adm;
-  auto document = parseXml("xml_parser/audio_block_format_direct_speakers.xml");
+  auto document =
+      parseXml(data_file("xml_parser/audio_block_format_direct_speakers.xml"));
   auto channelFormat =
       document->lookup(parseAudioChannelFormatId("AC_00011001"));
   REQUIRE(channelFormat->get<AudioChannelFormatId>()
@@ -31,8 +33,8 @@ TEST_CASE("xml_parser/audio_block_format_direct_speakers") {
 
 TEST_CASE("xml_parser/audio_block_format_direct_speakers_cartesian") {
   using namespace adm;
-  auto document =
-      parseXml("xml_parser/audio_block_format_direct_speakers_cartesian.xml");
+  auto document = parseXml(
+      data_file("xml_parser/audio_block_format_direct_speakers_cartesian.xml"));
   REQUIRE(!document->getElements<AudioChannelFormat>().empty());
   auto channelFormat =
       document->lookup(parseAudioChannelFormatId("AC_00011001"));
@@ -84,15 +86,17 @@ TEST_CASE("xml_parser/audio_block_format_direct_speakers_cartesian") {
 TEST_CASE("xml_parser/audio_block_format_direct_speakers_cartesian_bad_bound") {
   using namespace adm;
   REQUIRE_THROWS_AS(
-      parseXml("xml_parser/"
-               "audio_block_format_direct_speakers_cartesian_bad_bound.xml"),
+      parseXml(data_file(
+          "xml_parser/"
+          "audio_block_format_direct_speakers_cartesian_bad_bound.xml")),
       error::XmlParsingError);
 }
 
 TEST_CASE("xml_parser/audio_block_format_direct_speakers_cartesian_bad_coord") {
   using namespace adm;
   REQUIRE_THROWS_AS(
-      parseXml("xml_parser/"
-               "audio_block_format_direct_speakers_cartesian_bad_coord.xml"),
+      parseXml(data_file(
+          "xml_parser/"
+          "audio_block_format_direct_speakers_cartesian_bad_coord.xml")),
       error::XmlParsingError);
 }
diff --git a/tests/xml_parser_audio_block_format_hoa_tests.cpp b/tests/xml_parser_audio_block_format_hoa_tests.cpp
index a05e8936..0d3df925 100644
--- a/tests/xml_parser_audio_block_format_hoa_tests.cpp
+++ b/tests/xml_parser_audio_block_format_hoa_tests.cpp
@@ -4,10 +4,11 @@
 #include "adm/elements/audio_channel_format.hpp"
 #include "adm/elements/frequency.hpp"
 #include "adm/parse.hpp"
+#include "test_config.hpp"
 
 TEST_CASE("xml_parser/audio_block_format_hoa") {
   using namespace adm;
-  auto document = parseXml("xml_parser/audio_block_format_hoa.xml");
+  auto document = parseXml(data_file("xml_parser/audio_block_format_hoa.xml"));
   auto channelFormat =
       document->lookup(parseAudioChannelFormatId("AC_00041001"));
   REQUIRE(channelFormat->get<AudioChannelFormatId>()
diff --git a/tests/xml_parser_audio_block_format_objects_tests.cpp b/tests/xml_parser_audio_block_format_objects_tests.cpp
index d1708767..6c2fe392 100644
--- a/tests/xml_parser_audio_block_format_objects_tests.cpp
+++ b/tests/xml_parser_audio_block_format_objects_tests.cpp
@@ -4,11 +4,13 @@
 #include "adm/elements/audio_channel_format.hpp"
 #include "adm/elements/frequency.hpp"
 #include "adm/parse.hpp"
+#include "test_config.hpp"
 
 TEST_CASE("xml_parser/audio_block_format_objects") {
   using namespace adm;
   {
-    auto document = parseXml("xml_parser/audio_block_format_objects.xml");
+    auto document =
+        parseXml(data_file("xml_parser/audio_block_format_objects.xml"));
     auto channelFormat =
         document->lookup(parseAudioChannelFormatId("AC_00031001"));
     REQUIRE(channelFormat->get<AudioChannelFormatId>()
diff --git a/tests/xml_parser_audio_channel_format_tests.cpp b/tests/xml_parser_audio_channel_format_tests.cpp
index 43cfa804..2d0b1b82 100644
--- a/tests/xml_parser_audio_channel_format_tests.cpp
+++ b/tests/xml_parser_audio_channel_format_tests.cpp
@@ -5,11 +5,12 @@
 #include "adm/elements/frequency.hpp"
 #include "adm/parse.hpp"
 #include "adm/errors.hpp"
+#include "test_config.hpp"
 
 TEST_CASE("xml_parser/audio_channel_format") {
   using namespace adm;
   {
-    auto document = parseXml("xml_parser/audio_channel_format.xml");
+    auto document = parseXml(data_file("xml_parser/audio_channel_format.xml"));
     auto channelFormat =
         document->lookup(parseAudioChannelFormatId("AC_00031002"));
 
@@ -27,7 +28,7 @@ TEST_CASE("xml_parser/audio_channel_format") {
 }
 
 TEST_CASE("xml_parser/audio_channel_format_duplicate_id") {
-  REQUIRE_THROWS_AS(
-      adm::parseXml("xml_parser/audio_channel_format_duplicate_id.xml"),
-      adm::error::XmlParsingDuplicateId);
+  REQUIRE_THROWS_AS(adm::parseXml(data_file(
+                        "xml_parser/audio_channel_format_duplicate_id.xml")),
+                    adm::error::XmlParsingDuplicateId);
 }
diff --git a/tests/xml_parser_audio_content_tests.cpp b/tests/xml_parser_audio_content_tests.cpp
index 3ae57676..2e44a1be 100644
--- a/tests/xml_parser_audio_content_tests.cpp
+++ b/tests/xml_parser_audio_content_tests.cpp
@@ -4,10 +4,11 @@
 #include "adm/elements/audio_content.hpp"
 #include "adm/parse.hpp"
 #include "adm/errors.hpp"
+#include "test_config.hpp"
 
 TEST_CASE("xml_parser/audio_content") {
   using namespace adm;
-  auto document = parseXml("xml_parser/audio_content.xml");
+  auto document = parseXml(data_file("xml_parser/audio_content.xml"));
   auto audioContent = document->lookup(parseAudioContentId("ACO_1001"));
 
   REQUIRE(audioContent->has<AudioContentName>() == true);
@@ -26,6 +27,7 @@ TEST_CASE("xml_parser/audio_content") {
 }
 
 TEST_CASE("xml_parser/audio_content_duplicate_id") {
-  REQUIRE_THROWS_AS(adm::parseXml("xml_parser/audio_content_duplicate_id.xml"),
-                    adm::error::XmlParsingDuplicateId);
+  REQUIRE_THROWS_AS(
+      adm::parseXml(data_file("xml_parser/audio_content_duplicate_id.xml")),
+      adm::error::XmlParsingDuplicateId);
 }
diff --git a/tests/xml_parser_audio_object_tests.cpp b/tests/xml_parser_audio_object_tests.cpp
index a8b9fbed..2779e470 100644
--- a/tests/xml_parser_audio_object_tests.cpp
+++ b/tests/xml_parser_audio_object_tests.cpp
@@ -5,10 +5,11 @@
 #include "adm/elements/audio_object.hpp"
 #include "adm/parse.hpp"
 #include "adm/errors.hpp"
+#include "test_config.hpp"
 
 TEST_CASE("xml_parser/audio_object") {
   using namespace adm;
-  auto document = parseXml("xml_parser/audio_object.xml");
+  auto document = parseXml(data_file("xml_parser/audio_object.xml"));
   auto audioObject = document->lookup(parseAudioObjectId("AO_1001"));
 
   REQUIRE(audioObject->has<AudioObjectName>() == true);
@@ -32,13 +33,15 @@ TEST_CASE("xml_parser/audio_object") {
 }
 
 TEST_CASE("xml_parser/audio_object_duplicate_id") {
-  REQUIRE_THROWS_AS(adm::parseXml("xml_parser/audio_object_duplicate_id.xml"),
-                    adm::error::XmlParsingDuplicateId);
+  REQUIRE_THROWS_AS(
+      adm::parseXml(data_file("xml_parser/audio_object_duplicate_id.xml")),
+      adm::error::XmlParsingDuplicateId);
 }
 
 TEST_CASE("xml_parser/audio_object_interaction") {
   using namespace adm;
-  auto document = adm::parseXml("xml_parser/audio_object_interaction.xml");
+  auto document =
+      adm::parseXml(data_file("xml_parser/audio_object_interaction.xml"));
   auto audioObjects = document->getElements<AudioObject>();
   REQUIRE(audioObjects.size() == 2);
 
diff --git a/tests/xml_parser_audio_pack_format_tests.cpp b/tests/xml_parser_audio_pack_format_tests.cpp
index 8bbf4366..ad6001a6 100644
--- a/tests/xml_parser_audio_pack_format_tests.cpp
+++ b/tests/xml_parser_audio_pack_format_tests.cpp
@@ -5,10 +5,11 @@
 #include "adm/elements/audio_pack_format.hpp"
 #include "adm/parse.hpp"
 #include "adm/errors.hpp"
+#include "test_config.hpp"
 
 TEST_CASE("xml_parser/audio_pack_format") {
   using namespace adm;
-  auto document = parseXml("../test_data/xml_parser/audio_pack_format.xml");
+  auto document = parseXml(data_file("xml_parser/audio_pack_format.xml"));
   auto audioPackFormat =
       document->lookup(parseAudioPackFormatId("AP_00011001"));
 
@@ -26,14 +27,13 @@ TEST_CASE("xml_parser/audio_pack_format") {
 
 TEST_CASE("xml_parser/audio_pack_format_duplicate_id") {
   REQUIRE_THROWS_AS(
-      adm::parseXml("../test_data/xml_parser/audio_pack_format_duplicate_id.xml"),
+      adm::parseXml(data_file("xml_parser/audio_pack_format_duplicate_id.xml")),
       adm::error::XmlParsingDuplicateId);
 }
 
-
 TEST_CASE("xml_parser/audio_pack_format_hoa") {
   using namespace adm;
-  auto document = parseXml("../test_data/xml_parser/audio_pack_format_hoa.xml");
+  auto document = parseXml(data_file("xml_parser/audio_pack_format_hoa.xml"));
   auto audioPackFormatGeneric =
       document->lookup(parseAudioPackFormatId("AP_00041001"));
 
diff --git a/tests/xml_parser_audio_programme_tests.cpp b/tests/xml_parser_audio_programme_tests.cpp
index 8dcae725..3582f4fe 100644
--- a/tests/xml_parser_audio_programme_tests.cpp
+++ b/tests/xml_parser_audio_programme_tests.cpp
@@ -4,11 +4,12 @@
 #include "adm/elements/audio_programme.hpp"
 #include "adm/parse.hpp"
 #include "adm/errors.hpp"
+#include "test_config.hpp"
 
 TEST_CASE("xml_parser/audio_programme") {
   {
     using namespace adm;
-    auto document = parseXml("xml_parser/audio_programme.xml");
+    auto document = parseXml(data_file("xml_parser/audio_programme.xml"));
     auto audioProgramme = document->lookup(parseAudioProgrammeId("APR_1001"));
 
     REQUIRE(audioProgramme->has<AudioProgrammeName>() == true);
@@ -43,6 +44,6 @@ TEST_CASE("xml_parser/audio_programme") {
 
 TEST_CASE("xml_parser/audio_programme_duplicate_id") {
   REQUIRE_THROWS_AS(
-      adm::parseXml("xml_parser/audio_programme_duplicate_id.xml"),
+      adm::parseXml(data_file("xml_parser/audio_programme_duplicate_id.xml")),
       adm::error::XmlParsingDuplicateId);
 }
diff --git a/tests/xml_parser_audio_stream_format_tests.cpp b/tests/xml_parser_audio_stream_format_tests.cpp
index 384e151b..0cac9253 100644
--- a/tests/xml_parser_audio_stream_format_tests.cpp
+++ b/tests/xml_parser_audio_stream_format_tests.cpp
@@ -5,10 +5,11 @@
 #include "adm/elements/frequency.hpp"
 #include "adm/parse.hpp"
 #include "adm/errors.hpp"
+#include "test_config.hpp"
 
 TEST_CASE("xml_parser/audio_stream_format") {
   using namespace adm;
-  auto document = parseXml("xml_parser/audio_stream_format.xml");
+  auto document = parseXml(data_file("xml_parser/audio_stream_format.xml"));
   auto streamFormat = document->lookup(parseAudioStreamFormatId("AS_00031001"));
   REQUIRE(streamFormat->get<AudioStreamFormatId>()
               .get<AudioStreamFormatIdValue>() == 0x1001u);
@@ -19,7 +20,7 @@ TEST_CASE("xml_parser/audio_stream_format") {
 }
 
 TEST_CASE("xml_parser/audio_stream_format_duplicate_id") {
-  REQUIRE_THROWS_AS(
-      adm::parseXml("xml_parser/audio_stream_format_duplicate_id.xml"),
-      adm::error::XmlParsingDuplicateId);
+  REQUIRE_THROWS_AS(adm::parseXml(data_file(
+                        "xml_parser/audio_stream_format_duplicate_id.xml")),
+                    adm::error::XmlParsingDuplicateId);
 }
diff --git a/tests/xml_parser_audio_track_format_tests.cpp b/tests/xml_parser_audio_track_format_tests.cpp
index 1f49739c..8f22da8e 100644
--- a/tests/xml_parser_audio_track_format_tests.cpp
+++ b/tests/xml_parser_audio_track_format_tests.cpp
@@ -5,10 +5,11 @@
 #include "adm/elements/frequency.hpp"
 #include "adm/parse.hpp"
 #include "adm/errors.hpp"
+#include "test_config.hpp"
 
 TEST_CASE("xml_parser/audio_track_format") {
   using namespace adm;
-  auto document = parseXml("xml_parser/audio_track_format.xml");
+  auto document = parseXml(data_file("xml_parser/audio_track_format.xml"));
   auto trackFormat =
       document->lookup(parseAudioTrackFormatId("AT_00030001_01"));
   REQUIRE(
@@ -24,7 +25,7 @@ TEST_CASE("xml_parser/audio_track_format") {
 }
 
 TEST_CASE("xml_parser/audio_track_format_duplicate_id") {
-  REQUIRE_THROWS_AS(
-      adm::parseXml("xml_parser/audio_track_format_duplicate_id.xml"),
-      adm::error::XmlParsingDuplicateId);
+  REQUIRE_THROWS_AS(adm::parseXml(data_file(
+                        "xml_parser/audio_track_format_duplicate_id.xml")),
+                    adm::error::XmlParsingDuplicateId);
 }
diff --git a/tests/xml_parser_audio_track_uid_tests.cpp b/tests/xml_parser_audio_track_uid_tests.cpp
index bba975a4..0db3fb9a 100644
--- a/tests/xml_parser_audio_track_uid_tests.cpp
+++ b/tests/xml_parser_audio_track_uid_tests.cpp
@@ -4,10 +4,11 @@
 #include "adm/elements/audio_track_uid.hpp"
 #include "adm/parse.hpp"
 #include "adm/errors.hpp"
+#include "test_config.hpp"
 
 TEST_CASE("xml_parser/audio_track_uid") {
   using namespace adm;
-  auto document = parseXml("xml_parser/audio_track_uid.xml");
+  auto document = parseXml(data_file("xml_parser/audio_track_uid.xml"));
   auto audioTrackUid = document->lookup(parseAudioTrackUidId("ATU_00000001"));
 
   REQUIRE(audioTrackUid->has<AudioTrackUidId>() == true);
@@ -22,6 +23,6 @@ TEST_CASE("xml_parser/audio_track_uid") {
 
 TEST_CASE("xml_parser/audio_track_uid_duplicate_id") {
   REQUIRE_THROWS_AS(
-      adm::parseXml("xml_parser/audio_track_uid_duplicate_id.xml"),
+      adm::parseXml(data_file("xml_parser/audio_track_uid_duplicate_id.xml")),
       adm::error::XmlParsingDuplicateId);
 }
diff --git a/tests/xml_parser_common_definitions_tests.cpp b/tests/xml_parser_common_definitions_tests.cpp
index f5682a1d..1aec3bf4 100644
--- a/tests/xml_parser_common_definitions_tests.cpp
+++ b/tests/xml_parser_common_definitions_tests.cpp
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 #include <catch2/catch.hpp>
 #include <sstream>
 #include "adm/parse.hpp"
+#include "test_config.hpp"
 
 TEST_CASE("xml_parser/with_common_definitions") {
-  adm::parseXml("xml_parser/with_common_definitions.xml");
+  adm::parseXml(data_file("xml_parser/with_common_definitions.xml"));
 }
diff --git a/tests/xml_parser_find_audio_format_extended_tests.cpp b/tests/xml_parser_find_audio_format_extended_tests.cpp
index 23405fbf..b1422d71 100644
--- a/tests/xml_parser_find_audio_format_extended_tests.cpp
+++ b/tests/xml_parser_find_audio_format_extended_tests.cpp
@@ -1,17 +1,18 @@
 #include <catch2/catch.hpp>
 #include <sstream>
 #include "adm/parse.hpp"
+#include "test_config.hpp"
 
 TEST_CASE("xml_parser/find_audio_format_extended_ebu") {
-  adm::parseXml("xml_parser/find_audio_format_extended_ebu.xml");
+  adm::parseXml(data_file("xml_parser/find_audio_format_extended_ebu.xml"));
 }
 
 TEST_CASE("find_audio_format_extended_itu") {
-  adm::parseXml("xml_parser/find_audio_format_extended_itu.xml",
+  adm::parseXml(data_file("xml_parser/find_audio_format_extended_itu.xml"),
                 adm::xml::ParserOptions::recursive_node_search);
 }
 
 TEST_CASE("xml_parser/find_audio_format_extended_ebu_with_other_metadata") {
-  adm::parseXml(
-      "xml_parser/find_audio_format_extended_ebu_with_other_metadata.xml");
+  adm::parseXml(data_file(
+      "xml_parser/find_audio_format_extended_ebu_with_other_metadata.xml"));
 }
diff --git a/tests/xml_parser_unresolved_references_tests.cpp b/tests/xml_parser_unresolved_references_tests.cpp
index a39f48b5..f2237bbe 100644
--- a/tests/xml_parser_unresolved_references_tests.cpp
+++ b/tests/xml_parser_unresolved_references_tests.cpp
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #include <sstream>
 #include "adm/parse.hpp"
 #include "adm/errors.hpp"
+#include "test_config.hpp"
 
 std::string formatFilepath(const std::string& filename) {
   std::stringstream ss;
@@ -16,7 +17,7 @@ TEST_CASE("xml_parser/unresolved_references") {
         "audio_track_uid_1", "audio_track_uid_2", "audio_track_format",
         "audio_stream_format_1", "audio_stream_format_2"}) {
     SECTION(filename) {
-      REQUIRE_THROWS_AS(adm::parseXml(formatFilepath(filename)),
+      REQUIRE_THROWS_AS(adm::parseXml(data_file(formatFilepath(filename))),
                         adm::error::XmlParsingUnresolvedReference);
     }
   }