diff --git a/tests/basetest.py b/tests/basetest.py
index d507d8b..70de515 100644
--- a/tests/basetest.py
+++ b/tests/basetest.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-
+import os
 # To run tests as non-root, use this hack:
 # chmod 4755 /usr/sbin/zpool /usr/sbin/zfs
 
@@ -51,6 +51,10 @@
 else:
     OutputIO=io.StringIO
 
+# for when we're using a suid-root python binary during development
+os.setuid(0)
+os.setgid(0)
+
 
 # for python2 compatibility (python 3 has this already)
 @contextlib.contextmanager
diff --git a/tests/tests b/tests/tests
new file mode 120000
index 0000000..945c9b4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/tests
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+.
\ No newline at end of file