diff --git a/autotests/krununittest.cpp b/autotests/krununittest.cpp
--- a/autotests/krununittest.cpp
+++ b/autotests/krununittest.cpp
@@ -235,20 +235,16 @@
 
 void KRunUnitTest::testKtelnetservice()
 {
-    const QString ktelnetDesk = QFINDTESTDATA(QStringLiteral("../src/ioslaves/telnet/ktelnetservice5.desktop"));
-    QVERIFY(!ktelnetDesk.isEmpty());
+    const QString ktelnetDesk = QStandardPaths::locate(QStandardPaths::ApplicationsLocation, QStringLiteral("ktelnetservice5.desktop"));
+    const QString ktelnetExec = QStandardPaths::findExecutable(QStringLiteral("ktelnetservice5"));
 
-    QString ktelnetExec = QStandardPaths::findExecutable(QStringLiteral("ktelnetservice5"));
+    if (ktelnetDesk.isEmpty() || ktelnetExec.isEmpty()) {
+        qWarning() << "ktelnetservice5 not found, skippping test";
+        return;
+    }
 
     const KService service(ktelnetDesk);
 
-    // if KIO is installed we'll find <bindir>/ktelnetservice5, otherwise KIO::DesktopExecParser will
-    // use the executable from Exec= line
-    if (ktelnetExec.isEmpty()) {
-        ktelnetExec = service.exec().remove(QLatin1String(" %u"));
-    }
-    QVERIFY(!ktelnetExec.isEmpty());
-
     const QStringList protocols({QStringLiteral("ssh"), QStringLiteral("telnet"), QStringLiteral("rlogin")});
     for (const QString &protocol : protocols) {
         QList<QUrl> urls({QUrl(QStringLiteral("%1://root@10.1.1.1").arg(protocol))});