diff --git a/src/calibre/utils/resources.py b/src/calibre/utils/resources.py
index ab794b6186..a7b14ea4d9 100644
--- a/src/calibre/utils/resources.py
+++ b/src/calibre/utils/resources.py
@@ -72,10 +72,19 @@ def get_path(path, data=False, allow_user_override=True):
             return f.read()
     return fpath
 
-def get_image_path(path, data=False, allow_user_override=True):
-    if not path:
-        return get_path('images', allow_user_override=allow_user_override)
-    return get_path('images/'+path, data=data, allow_user_override=allow_user_override)
+if os.environ.get('CALIBRE_TEST_ICONS') == '1' and os.path.exists('/home/kovid/work/calibre/imgsrc/new'):
+    def get_image_path(path, data=False, allow_user_override=True):
+        if not path:
+            return get_path('images', allow_user_override=allow_user_override)
+        q = '/home/kovid/work/calibre/imgsrc/new/' + path[:-4] + '.svg'
+        if os.path.exists(q):
+            return q
+        return get_path('images/'+path, data=data, allow_user_override=allow_user_override)
+else:
+    def get_image_path(path, data=False, allow_user_override=True):
+        if not path:
+            return get_path('images', allow_user_override=allow_user_override)
+        return get_path('images/'+path, data=data, allow_user_override=allow_user_override)
 
 def js_name_to_path(name, ext='.coffee'):
     path = (u'/'.join(name.split('.'))) + ext