diff --git a/src/test/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/BaseTest.kt b/src/test/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/BaseTest.kt
index fa7c4016..763404f7 100644
--- a/src/test/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/BaseTest.kt
+++ b/src/test/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/BaseTest.kt
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import com.beust.kobalt.internal.PluginInfo
 import com.beust.kobalt.internal.build.BuildFile
 import com.beust.kobalt.misc.KobaltLogger
 import org.testng.annotations.BeforeClass
+import java.io.File
 import java.nio.file.Files
 import java.nio.file.Paths
 import java.util.*
@@ -26,17 +27,20 @@ open class BaseTest(val compilerFactory: BuildFileCompiler.IFactory? = null) {
      */
     fun compileSingleProject(projectText: String, args: Args = Args()) : Project {
         val projectName = "p" + Math.abs(Random().nextInt())
+        val projectDirectory = Files.createTempDirectory("kobaltTest").toFile().path
+
         val buildFileText= """
             import com.beust.kobalt.*
             import com.beust.kobalt.api.*
             val $projectName = project {
                 name = "$projectName"
+                directory = "$projectDirectory"
                 $projectText
             }
-        """
+        """.trim()
 
         args.noIncremental = true
-        val projectResults = compileBuildFile(buildFileText, args)
+        val projectResults = compileBuildFile(projectDirectory, buildFileText, args)
         val result = projectResults.projects.firstOrNull { it.name == projectName }
         if (result == null) {
             throw IllegalArgumentException("Couldn't find project named $projectName in "
@@ -51,10 +55,11 @@ open class BaseTest(val compilerFactory: BuildFileCompiler.IFactory? = null) {
      * should preferably use random names for the projects defined in their build file to avoid
      * interfering with other tests.
      */
-    fun compileBuildFile(buildFileText: String, args: Args = Args()): BuildFileCompiler.FindProjectResult {
+    fun compileBuildFile(projectDirectory: String, buildFileText: String, args: Args = Args())
+            : BuildFileCompiler .FindProjectResult {
         KobaltLogger.LOG_LEVEL = 3
-        val tmpBaseDir = Files.createTempDirectory("kobaltTest")
-        val tmpBuildFile = Files.createTempFile(tmpBaseDir, "kobaltTest", "").toFile().apply {
+        val path = Paths.get(projectDirectory)
+        val tmpBuildFile = File(path.toFile(), "Build.kt").apply {
             deleteOnExit()
             writeText(buildFileText)
         }
diff --git a/src/test/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/internal/ProfileTest.kt b/src/test/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/internal/ProfileTest.kt
index 2ae08f54..fe12191d 100644
--- a/src/test/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/internal/ProfileTest.kt
+++ b/src/test/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/internal/ProfileTest.kt
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThat
 import org.testng.annotations.DataProvider
 import org.testng.annotations.Guice
 import org.testng.annotations.Test
+import java.nio.file.Files
 import java.util.*
 
 @Guice(modules = arrayOf(TestModule::class))
@@ -18,6 +19,7 @@ class ProfileTest @Inject constructor(compilerFactory: BuildFileCompiler.IFactor
 
     private fun runTestWithProfile(enabled: Boolean) : Project {
         val projectVal = "p" + Math.abs(Random().nextInt())
+        val projectDirectory = Files.createTempDirectory("kobaltTest").toFile().path
 
         fun buildFileString(): String {
             return """
@@ -26,13 +28,14 @@ class ProfileTest @Inject constructor(compilerFactory: BuildFileCompiler.IFactor
                 val profile = false
                 val $projectVal = project {
                     name = if (profile) "profileOn" else "profileOff"
+                    directory = "$projectDirectory"
                 }
-                """
+                """.trim()
         }
 
         val args = Args()
         if (enabled) args.profiles = "profile"
-        val results = compileBuildFile(buildFileString(), args)
+        val results = compileBuildFile(projectDirectory, buildFileString(), args)
         return results.projects[0]
     }
 
diff --git a/src/test/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/maven/DependencyManagerTest.kt b/src/test/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/maven/DependencyManagerTest.kt
index 9a45939b..77cf8953 100644
--- a/src/test/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/maven/DependencyManagerTest.kt
+++ b/src/test/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/maven/DependencyManagerTest.kt
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThat
 import org.eclipse.aether.util.filter.AndDependencyFilter
 import org.testng.annotations.Guice
 import org.testng.annotations.Test
+import java.nio.file.Files
 
 @Guice(modules = arrayOf(TestModule::class))
 class DependencyManagerTest @Inject constructor(val dependencyManager: DependencyManager,
@@ -106,11 +107,13 @@ class DependencyManagerTest @Inject constructor(val dependencyManager: Dependenc
     }
 
     private fun findDependentProject(): Project {
+        val projectDirectory = Files.createTempDirectory("kobaltTest").toFile().path
         val sharedBuildFile = """
             import com.beust.kobalt.*
 
             val lib2 = project {
                 name = "lib2"
+                directory = "$projectDirectory"
                 dependencies {
                     // pick dependencies that don't have dependencies themselves, to avoid interferences
                     compile("com.beust:klaxon:0.27",
@@ -125,7 +128,7 @@ class DependencyManagerTest @Inject constructor(val dependencyManager: Dependenc
             }
         """
         Kobalt.context = null
-        return compileBuildFile(sharedBuildFile).projects.first { it.name == "transitive2" }
+        return compileBuildFile(projectDirectory, sharedBuildFile).projects.first { it.name == "transitive2" }
     }
 }