diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/common.config b/tests/qemu-iotests/common.config
index d1b45f5447..e0883a0c65 100644
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/common.config
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/common.config
@@ -103,6 +103,17 @@ if [ -z "$QEMU_VXHS_PROG" ]; then
     export QEMU_VXHS_PROG="`set_prog_path qnio_server`"
 fi
 
+export QEMU_PROG=$(realpath -- "$(type -p "$QEMU_PROG")")
+export QEMU_IMG_PROG=$(realpath -- "$(type -p "$QEMU_IMG_PROG")")
+export QEMU_IO_PROG=$(realpath -- "$(type -p "$QEMU_IO_PROG")")
+export QEMU_NBD_PROG=$(realpath -- "$(type -p "$QEMU_NBD_PROG")")
+
+# This program is not built as part of qemu but (possibly) provided by the
+# system, so it may not be present at all
+if [ -n "$QEMU_VXHS_PROG" ]; then
+    export QEMU_VXHS_PROG=$(realpath -- "$(type -p "$QEMU_VXHS_PROG")")
+fi
+
 _qemu_wrapper()
 {
     (