diff --git a/internal/test_unit/xml/unit_stat_analysis_ps.xml b/internal/test_unit/xml/unit_stat_analysis_ps.xml
index d32fe963f7..dba20346c8 100644
--- a/internal/test_unit/xml/unit_stat_analysis_ps.xml
+++ b/internal/test_unit/xml/unit_stat_analysis_ps.xml
@@ -68,9 +68,11 @@
   </test>
 
   <test name="stat_analysis_POINT_STAT_FILTER_OBS_SID">
-    <exec>&MET_BIN;/stat_analysis</exec>
+    <exec>touch &OUTPUT_DIR;/stat_analysis_ps/EmptyConfigFile; \
+          &MET_BIN;/stat_analysis</exec>
     <param> \
       -lookin &OUTPUT_DIR;/point_stat/point_stat_GRIB1_NAM_GDAS_120000L_20120409_120000V.stat \
+      -config &OUTPUT_DIR;/stat_analysis_ps/EmptyConfigFile \
       -job filter -line_type MPR -fcst_var TMP -fcst_lev Z2 -vx_mask DTC165 \
       -column_str     OBS_SID KDLN,KDHT,KDEN,KDLS,KDMA,KDMN,KDVT,KDEW \
       -column_str_exc OBS_SID KDLN,KDHT \