diff --git a/py/_plugin/pytest_pytester.py b/py/_plugin/pytest_pytester.py
index bb6790d75..ccde0856f 100644
--- a/py/_plugin/pytest_pytester.py
+++ b/py/_plugin/pytest_pytester.py
@@ -347,6 +347,11 @@ class TmpTestdir:
         p = py.path.local.make_numbered_dir(prefix="runpytest-", 
             keep=None, rootdir=self.tmpdir)
         args = ('--basetemp=%s' % p, ) + args 
+        for x in args:
+            if '--confcutdir' in str(x):
+                break
+        else:
+            args = ('--confcutdir=.',) + args
         plugins = [x for x in self.plugins if isinstance(x, str)]
         if plugins:
             args = ('-p', plugins[0]) + args
diff --git a/testing/test_conftesthandle.py b/testing/test_conftesthandle.py
index 0eb8066b0..65ee13504 100644
--- a/testing/test_conftesthandle.py
+++ b/testing/test_conftesthandle.py
@@ -31,7 +31,8 @@ class TestConftestValueAccessGlobal:
     def test_onimport(self, basedir):
         l = []
         conftest = Conftest(onimport=l.append)
-        conftest.setinitial([basedir.join("adir")])
+        conftest.setinitial([basedir.join("adir"), 
+            '--confcutdir=%s' % basedir])
         assert len(l) == 2 
         assert conftest.rget("a") == 1
         assert conftest.rget("b", basedir.join("adir", "b")) == 2
@@ -145,7 +146,7 @@ def test_setinitial_conftest_subdirs(testdir, name):
     sub = testdir.mkdir(name)
     subconftest = sub.ensure("conftest.py")
     conftest = Conftest()
-    conftest.setinitial([sub.dirpath()])
+    conftest.setinitial([sub.dirpath(), '--confcutdir=%s' % testdir.tmpdir])
     if name != ".dotdir":
         assert  subconftest in conftest._conftestpath2mod
         assert len(conftest._conftestpath2mod) == 1