The proper way to do this is with Test::File::ShareDir. You just need an extra line of boilerplate in your test pointing to the local directory:

    use Test::File::ShareDir -share => { -dist => { 'Name-Of-Your-Dist
+ribution' => 'share/somefolder' } };
[download]

Then, normal calls to File::ShareDir::dist_dir will find the local folder, before looking in your @INC directories for the installed sharedirs.

-ether@cpan.org