diff --git a/doc/tests/test_doctests.py b/doc/tests/test_doctests.py
index 3254b475206024e65bad180238664c8f70ca0b32..50c856e1f579b3b596921a7f0227d1721057d136 100644
--- a/doc/tests/test_doctests.py
+++ b/doc/tests/test_doctests.py
@@ -209,12 +209,15 @@ class DocTests(unittest.TestCase):
         # check binaries
         binaries_found = True
         try:
-            settings.Locate('dssp')
+            # same check used in OST
+            settings.Locate(['dsspcmbi','dssp','mkdssp'],
+                            env_name='DSSP_EXECUTABLE')
         except settings.FileNotFound:
             print 'dssp binary is missing. Please install it and make it ' + \
                   'available in your PATH to execute test testLoopStructureDB.'
             binaries_found = False
         try:
+            # same check used in OST
             settings.Locate('msms')
         except settings.FileNotFound:
             print 'msms binary is missing. Please install it and make it ' + \