diff --git a/test/python/CMakeLists.txt b/test/python/CMakeLists.txt
index 59802f1cc..6eb566207 100644
--- a/test/python/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/test/python/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -356,7 +356,6 @@ teca_add_test(py_test_bayesian_ar_detect_mpi_threads
 
 teca_add_test(py_test_deeplabv3p_ar_detect_serial
     COMMAND  ${PYTHON_EXECUTABLE} ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/test_deeplabv3p_ar_detect.py
-    "${TECA_ASSETS_ROOT}/cascade_deeplab_IVT.pt"
     "${TECA_DATA_ROOT}/ARTMIP_MERRA_2D_2017-05.*\.nc$"
     "${TECA_DATA_ROOT}/test_deeplabv3p_ar_detect" IVT 1
     FEATURES ${TECA_HAS_NETCDF}
@@ -364,7 +363,6 @@ teca_add_test(py_test_deeplabv3p_ar_detect_serial
 
 teca_add_test(py_test_deeplabv3p_ar_detect_threads
     COMMAND  ${PYTHON_EXECUTABLE} ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/test_deeplabv3p_ar_detect.py
-    "${TECA_ASSETS_ROOT}/cascade_deeplab_IVT.pt"
     "${TECA_DATA_ROOT}/ARTMIP_MERRA_2D_2017-05.*\.nc$"
     "${TECA_DATA_ROOT}/test_deeplabv3p_ar_detect" IVT -1
     FEATURES ${TECA_HAS_NETCDF}
@@ -373,7 +371,6 @@ teca_add_test(py_test_deeplabv3p_ar_detect_threads
 teca_add_test(py_test_deeplabv3p_ar_detect_mpi_threads
     COMMAND ${MPIEXEC} -n ${HALF_TEST_CORES} ${PYTHON_EXECUTABLE}
     ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/test_deeplabv3p_ar_detect.py
-    "${TECA_ASSETS_ROOT}/cascade_deeplab_IVT.pt"
     "${TECA_DATA_ROOT}/ARTMIP_MERRA_2D_2017-05.*\.nc$"
     "${TECA_DATA_ROOT}/test_deeplabv3p_ar_detect" IVT -1
     FEATURES ${TECA_HAS_NETCDF} ${TECA_HAS_MPI} ${MPI4Py_FOUND}
diff --git a/test/python/test_deeplabv3p_ar_detect.py b/test/python/test_deeplabv3p_ar_detect.py
index 2b410bb1b..6a4219916 100644
--- a/test/python/test_deeplabv3p_ar_detect.py
+++ b/test/python/test_deeplabv3p_ar_detect.py
@@ -14,21 +14,24 @@
 set_stack_trace_on_error()
 set_stack_trace_on_mpi_error()
 
-if (len(sys.argv) != 6):
+if (len(sys.argv) != 5):
     sys.stderr.write('\n\nUsage error:\n'
-                     'test_deeplabv3p_ar_detect [deeplab model] '
-                     '[mesh data regex] [baseline] '
-                     '[water vapor var] [num threads]\n\n')
+                     'test_deeplabv3p_ar_detect [mesh data regex] '
+                     '[baseline] [water vapor var] [num threads]\n\n')
     sys.exit(-1)
 
 # parse command line
-deeplab_model = sys.argv[1]
-input_regex = sys.argv[2]
-baseline = sys.argv[3]
-water_vapor_var = sys.argv[4]
-n_threads = int(sys.argv[5])
+input_regex = sys.argv[1]
+baseline = sys.argv[2]
+water_vapor_var = sys.argv[3]
+n_threads = int(sys.argv[4])
 vrb = 1
 
+deeplab_model = os.path.join(
+    get_teca_assets_root(),
+    "cascade_deeplab_IVT.pt"
+    )
+
 cf_reader = teca_cf_reader.New()
 cf_reader.set_files_regex(input_regex)
 cf_reader.set_periodic_in_x(1)