diff --git a/pkg/test/test.go b/pkg/test/test.go
index 7bdbd4c10..ff133a655 100644
--- a/pkg/test/test.go
+++ b/pkg/test/test.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"errors"
 	"os"
 	"os/exec"
+	"path/filepath"
 
 	"github.com/jesseduffield/lazygit/pkg/utils"
 )
@@ -11,7 +12,14 @@ import (
 // GenerateRepo generates a repo from test/repos and changes the directory to be
 // inside the newly made repo
 func GenerateRepo(filename string) error {
-	testPath := utils.GetProjectRoot() + "/test/repos/"
+	reposDir := "/test/repos/"
+	testPath := utils.GetProjectRoot() + reposDir
+
+	// workaround for debian packaging
+	if _, err := os.Stat(testPath); os.IsNotExist(err) {
+		cwd, _ := os.Getwd()
+		testPath = filepath.Dir(filepath.Dir(cwd)) + reposDir
+	}
 	if err := os.Chdir(testPath); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}