diff --git a/tests/test_creation.py b/tests/test_creation.py
index 879c31dc6..32b859fae 100644
--- a/tests/test_creation.py
+++ b/tests/test_creation.py
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ def test_baking_configs(config):
         verify_folders(project_directory, config)
         verify_files(project_directory, config)
         verify_makefile_commands(project_directory, config)
-            
+
 
 def verify_folders(root, config):
     ''' Tests that expected folders and only expected folders exist.
@@ -146,11 +146,11 @@ def verify_makefile_commands(root, config):
     else:
         raise ValueError(f"Environment manager '{config['environment_manager']}' not found in test harnesses.")
 
-    result = run(["bash", str(harness_path), str(root.resolve())], stderr=PIPE, stdout=PIPE)
+    result = run(["bash", str(harness_path), str(root.resolve())], stderr=PIPE, stdout=PIPE, encoding="utf-8")
 
     # normally hidden by pytest except in failure we want this displayed
     print("\n======================= STDOUT ======================")
-    print(result.stdout.decode())
+    print(result.stdout.decode(encoding="utf-8"))
     print("\n======================= STDERR ======================")
-    print(result.stderr.decode())
+    print(result.stderr.decode(encoding="utf-8"))
     assert result.returncode == 0
diff --git a/tests/virtualenv_harness.sh b/tests/virtualenv_harness.sh
index e10a78798..687e1c26e 100644
--- a/tests/virtualenv_harness.sh
+++ b/tests/virtualenv_harness.sh
@@ -29,8 +29,17 @@ export WORKON_HOME=$TEMP_ENV_ROOT
 if [[ $(which virtualenvwrapper.sh) ]]; then
     VIRTUALENVWRAPPER_SCRIPT=$(which virtualenvwrapper.sh)
 else
-    VIRTUALENVWRAPPER_SCRIPT=$(find ${PATH//:/ } -name "virtualenvwrapper.sh" -maxdepth 1)
+    for path in ${PATH//:/ }; do
+        if [ -d "$path" ]; then
+            echo "Searching $path for virtualenvwrapper.sh"
+            FIND_RESULT=$(find $path -maxdepth 1 -name "virtualenvwrapper.sh")
+            if [[ "$FIND_RESULT" ]]; then
+                VIRTUALENVWRAPPER_SCRIPT=$FIND_RESULT
+            fi
+        fi
+    done
 fi
+echo VIRTUALENVWRAPPER_SCRIPT=$VIRTUALENVWRAPPER_SCRIPT
 source $VIRTUALENVWRAPPER_SCRIPT
 
 make create_environment