diff --git a/backends.py b/backends.py
index cb594531e..47df757e0 100644
--- a/backends.py
+++ b/backends.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 import mparser
 import os, re, pickle
 import build
+import dependencies
 from coredata import MesonException
 
 def do_replacement(regex, line, confdata):
@@ -309,7 +310,11 @@ class Backend():
     def write_test_file(self, datafile):
         arr = []
         for t in self.build.get_tests():
-            fname = os.path.join(self.environment.get_build_dir(), self.get_target_filename(t.get_exe()))
+            exe = t.get_exe()
+            if isinstance(exe, dependencies.ExternalProgram):
+                fname = exe.fullpath
+            else:
+                fname = [os.path.join(self.environment.get_build_dir(), self.get_target_filename(t.get_exe()))]
             is_cross = self.environment.is_cross_build()
             if is_cross:
                 exe_wrapper = self.environment.cross_info.get('exe_wrapper', None)
diff --git a/interpreter.py b/interpreter.py
index 48e1e3cb5..319aeaded 100644
--- a/interpreter.py
+++ b/interpreter.py
@@ -1281,7 +1281,7 @@ class Interpreter():
             raise InterpreterException('Incorrect number of arguments')
         if not isinstance(args[0], str):
             raise InterpreterException('First argument of test must be a string.')
-        if not isinstance(args[1], ExecutableHolder) and not isinstance(args[1], JarHolder):
+        if not isinstance(args[1], (ExecutableHolder, JarHolder, ExternalProgramHolder)):
             raise InterpreterException('Second argument must be executable.')
         par = kwargs.get('is_parallel', True)
         if not isinstance(par, bool):
diff --git a/meson_test.py b/meson_test.py
index 51a7db6c6..65f9899fe 100755
--- a/meson_test.py
+++ b/meson_test.py
@@ -65,10 +65,10 @@ def run_with_mono(fname):
 
 def run_single_test(wrap, test):
     global tests_failed
-    if test.fname.endswith('.jar'):
-        cmd = ['java', '-jar', test.fname]
-    elif run_with_mono(test.fname):
-        cmd = ['mono', test.fname]
+    if test.fname[0].endswith('.jar'):
+        cmd = ['java', '-jar'] + test.fname
+    elif run_with_mono(test.fname[0]):
+        cmd = ['mono'] + test.fname
     else:
         if test.is_cross:
             if test.exe_runner is None:
@@ -76,9 +76,9 @@ def run_single_test(wrap, test):
                 # because there is no execute wrapper.
                 cmd = None
             else:
-                cmd = [test.exe_runner, test.fname]
+                cmd = [test.exe_runner] + test.fname
         else:
-            cmd = [test.fname]
+            cmd = test.fname
     if len(wrap) > 0 and 'valgrind' in wrap[0]:
         wrap += test.valgrind_args
     if cmd is None: