diff --git a/tests/load_octave_packages.m b/tests/load_octave_packages.m
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..886bf644b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/load_octave_packages.m
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+## Copyright (C) 2016 Dynare Team
+##
+## This file is part of Dynare.
+##
+## Dynare is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+## it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+## the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+## (at your option) any later version.
+##
+## Dynare is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+## but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+## MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
+## GNU General Public License for more details.
+##
+## You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+## along with Dynare. If not, see .
+
+pkg load io
+pkg load optim
+pkg load control
+pkg load statistics
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/run_all_unitary_tests.m b/tests/run_all_unitary_tests.m
index 2643b906d..c48e9df2c 100644
--- a/tests/run_all_unitary_tests.m
+++ b/tests/run_all_unitary_tests.m
@@ -15,6 +15,10 @@
% You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
% along with Dynare. If not, see .
+if isoctave
+ load_octave_packages
+end
+
top_test_dir = getenv('TOP_TEST_DIR');
addpath(top_test_dir);
addpath([top_test_dir filesep '..' filesep 'matlab']);
diff --git a/tests/run_o_script.m b/tests/run_o_script.m
index 1f62d2d00..3edba0582 100644
--- a/tests/run_o_script.m
+++ b/tests/run_o_script.m
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@
## You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
## along with Dynare. If not, see .
+load_octave_packages
+
top_test_dir = getenv('TOP_TEST_DIR');
[mfile, name] = strtok(getenv('FILESTEM'));
diff --git a/tests/run_reporting_test_octave.m b/tests/run_reporting_test_octave.m
index 0f10f5eb6..c2dd3c207 100644
--- a/tests/run_reporting_test_octave.m
+++ b/tests/run_reporting_test_octave.m
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-## Copyright (C) 2013 Dynare Team
+## Copyright (C) 2013-2016 Dynare Team
##
## This file is part of Dynare.
##
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@
## You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
## along with Dynare. If not, see .
+load_octave_packages
+
top_test_dir = getenv('TOP_TEST_DIR');
addpath(top_test_dir);
addpath([top_test_dir filesep '..' filesep 'matlab']);
diff --git a/tests/run_test_octave.m b/tests/run_test_octave.m
index b82c84b85..cc834e31c 100644
--- a/tests/run_test_octave.m
+++ b/tests/run_test_octave.m
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-## Copyright (C) 2009-2014 Dynare Team
+## Copyright (C) 2009-2016 Dynare Team
##
## This file is part of Dynare.
##
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@
## 'wsOct', and reloaded after Dynare has finished (this is necessary since
## Dynare does a 'clear -all').
+load_octave_packages
+
top_test_dir = getenv('TOP_TEST_DIR');
addpath(top_test_dir);
addpath('.'); % workaround for bug in Octave 4.2.0-rc2: https://savannah.gnu.org/bugs/?49334