diff --git a/mkspecs/features/qt_test_helper.prf b/mkspecs/features/qt_test_helper.prf
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5daa14731d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mkspecs/features/qt_test_helper.prf
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+#
+#  W A R N I N G
+#  -------------
+#
+# This file is not part of the Qt API.  It exists purely as an
+# implementation detail.  It may change from version to version
+# without notice, or even be removed.
+#
+# We mean it.
+#
+
+# If an auto test needs a helper application, this helper should
+# be put into the same directory as the test itself. This common
+# folder should be the test's "main directory" or a "debug" or "release"
+# subfolder inside this main directory if debug_and_release is enabled.
+# Additionally the helper's executable is suffixed with "_helper" to
+# avoid name clashes with its folder.
+
+CONFIG -= app_bundle
+CONFIG += console
+
+debug_and_release {
+    CONFIG(debug, debug|release) {
+        TARGET = ../../debug/$${TARGET}_helper
+    } else {
+        TARGET = ../../release/$${TARGET}_helper
+    }
+} else {
+    TARGET = ../$${TARGET}_helper
+}
+
+parentFolder = $$dirname(_PRO_FILE_PWD_)
+testFolder = $$basename(parentFolder)
+target.path = $$[QT_INSTALL_TESTS]/$$testFolder
+INSTALLS += target
diff --git a/tests/auto/corelib/io/qfile/qfile.pro b/tests/auto/corelib/io/qfile/qfile.pro
index d2bfc08372..91c5c15f66 100644
--- a/tests/auto/corelib/io/qfile/qfile.pro
+++ b/tests/auto/corelib/io/qfile/qfile.pro
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 TEMPLATE = subdirs
-SUBDIRS = test
+SUBDIRS = test.pro
 !winrt: SUBDIRS += stdinprocess
diff --git a/tests/auto/corelib/io/qfile/stdinprocess/stdinprocess.pro b/tests/auto/corelib/io/qfile/stdinprocess/stdinprocess.pro
index 4029701943..512da8939b 100644
--- a/tests/auto/corelib/io/qfile/stdinprocess/stdinprocess.pro
+++ b/tests/auto/corelib/io/qfile/stdinprocess/stdinprocess.pro
@@ -1,18 +1,4 @@
 SOURCES += main.cpp
 QT = core
-CONFIG -= app_bundle
-CONFIG += console
 
-debug_and_release {
-    CONFIG(debug, debug|release) {
-        TARGET = ../../debug/stdinprocess_helper
-    } else {
-        TARGET = ../../release/stdinprocess_helper
-    }
-} else {
-    TARGET = ../stdinprocess_helper
-}
-
-# This app is testdata for tst_qfile
-target.path = $$[QT_INSTALL_TESTS]/tst_qfile/$$TARGET
-INSTALLS += target
+load(qt_test_helper)
diff --git a/tests/auto/corelib/io/qfile/test.pro b/tests/auto/corelib/io/qfile/test.pro
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..95389ab3e2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/auto/corelib/io/qfile/test.pro
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+CONFIG += testcase
+QT = core-private testlib
+qtHaveModule(network): QT += network
+else: DEFINES += QT_NO_NETWORK
+
+contains(CONFIG, builtin_testdata) {
+    DEFINES += BUILTIN_TESTDATA
+}
+
+TESTDATA += BLACKLIST
+
+TARGET = tst_qfile
+
+SOURCES = tst_qfile.cpp
+INCLUDEPATH += ../../../../shared/
+HEADERS += ../../../../shared/emulationdetector.h
+
+RESOURCES += qfile.qrc rename-fallback.qrc copy-fallback.qrc
+
+TESTDATA += \
+    dosfile.txt noendofline.txt testfile.txt \
+    testlog.txt two.dots.file tst_qfile.cpp \
+    Makefile forCopying.txt forRenaming.txt \
+    resources/file1.ext1
+
+win32:!winrt: LIBS += -lole32 -luuid
diff --git a/tests/auto/corelib/io/qfile/test/test.pro b/tests/auto/corelib/io/qfile/test/test.pro
deleted file mode 100644
index 7b952b0283..0000000000
--- a/tests/auto/corelib/io/qfile/test/test.pro
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,32 +0,0 @@
-CONFIG += testcase
-QT = core-private core testlib
-qtHaveModule(network): QT += network
-else: DEFINES += QT_NO_NETWORK
-
-contains(CONFIG, builtin_testdata) {
-    DEFINES += BUILTIN_TESTDATA
-}
-
-TESTDATA += ../BLACKLIST
-
-debug_and_release {
-    CONFIG(debug, debug|release) {
-        TARGET = ../../debug/tst_qfile
-    } else {
-        TARGET = ../../release/tst_qfile
-    }
-} else {
-    TARGET = ../tst_qfile
-}
-SOURCES = ../tst_qfile.cpp
-INCLUDEPATH += ../../../../../shared/
-HEADERS += ../../../../../shared/emulationdetector.h
-
-RESOURCES += ../qfile.qrc ../rename-fallback.qrc ../copy-fallback.qrc
-
-TESTDATA += ../dosfile.txt ../noendofline.txt ../testfile.txt \
-            ../testlog.txt ../two.dots.file ../tst_qfile.cpp \
-            ../Makefile ../forCopying.txt ../forRenaming.txt \
-            ../resources/file1.ext1
-
-win32:!winrt: LIBS+=-lole32 -luuid