diff --git a/test/shaping/run-tests.py b/test/shaping/run-tests.py
index 09c2f68..342c006 100755
--- a/test/shaping/run-tests.py
+++ b/test/shaping/run-tests.py
@@ -28,14 +28,22 @@
 extra_options = "--verify"
 hb_shape = os.path.join (top_builddir, utildir, "hb-shape" + EXEEXT)
 
-fails = 0
 args = sys.argv[1:]
 
+if not os.path.exists (hb_shape):
+	hb_shape = args[0]
+	args = args[1:]
+
+fails = 0
+
 reference = False
 if len (args) and args[0] == "--reference":
 	reference = True
 	args = args[1:]
 
+if not reference:
+	print ('hb_shape:', hb_shape)
+
 if not len (args):
 	args = [sys.stdin]