diff --git a/tests/scripts/test053-syncprov-glue b/tests/scripts/test053-syncprov-glue
index 0a4d70d110..429b17becf 100755
--- a/tests/scripts/test053-syncprov-glue
+++ b/tests/scripts/test053-syncprov-glue
@@ -476,12 +476,20 @@ if test $RC != 0 ; then
 	exit $RC
 fi
 
-type db_stat >/dev/null 2>&1
-RC=$?
-if test $RC != 0 ; then
-	echo "Could not find db_stat ($RC)!"
+db_stat=
+for path in `echo "$PATH" | sed -e 's/:/ /g'`; do
+	if test -f "$path/db_stat" && \
+		"$path/db_stat" -E -h $PRODDIR/db > /dev/null 2>&1
+	then
+		db_stat="$path/db_stat"
+		break
+	fi
+done
+
+if test -z "$db_stat" ; then
+	echo "Could not find a working db_stat in PATH!"
 	lock_bug=1
-elif db_stat -E -h $PRODDIR/db | egrep -q 'HELD .* len:'; then
+elif "$db_stat" -E -h $PRODDIR/db | egrep -q 'HELD .* len:'; then
 	echo "WARNING: Glue lock bug hit, next modify could deadlock"
 	lock_bug=2
 else