diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..46046918
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+#
+# This file is part of gunicorn released under the MIT license.
+# See the NOTICE for more information.
+
+"""Pytest configuration for gunicorn tests."""
+
+import os
+import sys
+
+# Add the tests directory to sys.path so test support modules can be imported
+# as 'tests.module_name' (e.g., 'tests.support_dirty_apps:CounterApp')
+tests_dir = os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__)))
+if tests_dir not in sys.path:
+    sys.path.insert(0, tests_dir)