diff --git a/test/shaping/meson.build b/test/shaping/meson.build
index 8e7e3d2b4..81852e05a 100644
--- a/test/shaping/meson.build
+++ b/test/shaping/meson.build
@@ -269,10 +269,12 @@ disabled_text_rendering_tests = [
   'SHKNDA-3.tests',
 ]
 
+shaping_run_tests_py = find_program('run-tests.py')
+
 foreach file_name : in_house_tests
   test_name = file_name.split('.')[0].underscorify()
 
-  test(test_name, find_program('run-tests.py'),
+  test(test_name, shaping_run_tests_py,
     args: [
       hb_shape,
       meson.current_source_dir() / 'data' / 'in-house' / 'tests' / file_name,
@@ -284,7 +286,7 @@ endforeach
 foreach file_name : aots_tests
   test_name = file_name.split('.')[0].underscorify()
 
-  test(test_name, find_program('run-tests.py'),
+  test(test_name, shaping_run_tests_py,
     args: [
       hb_shape,
       meson.current_source_dir() / 'data' / 'aots' / 'tests' / file_name,
@@ -296,7 +298,7 @@ endforeach
 foreach file_name : text_rendering_tests
   test_name = file_name.split('.')[0].underscorify()
 
-  test(test_name, find_program('run-tests.py'),
+  test(test_name, shaping_run_tests_py,
     args: [
       hb_shape,
       meson.current_source_dir() / 'data' / 'text-rendering-tests' / 'tests' / file_name,