diff --git a/common.py b/common.py
index d7c9f9c..0bda0de 100644
--- a/common.py
+++ b/common.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ from caproto.sync.client import read, write
 
 def read_config():
     root_dir = os.path.dirname(__file__)
-    with open(root_dir + "config.yaml", "r") as f:
+    with open(root_dir + "/config.yaml", "r") as f:
         return yaml.safe_load(f)
 
 
diff --git a/ioc/startioc.py b/ioc/startioc.py
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index 9a5b75c..fa6d5ca
--- a/ioc/startioc.py
+++ b/ioc/startioc.py
@@ -38,3 +38,6 @@ def startioc():
 
     # Start the IOC itself
     subprocess.run(root_dir + 'ioc/st.cmd')
+
+if __name__ == __main__:
+    startioc()
diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index 908e209..b0de487 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -14,13 +14,14 @@ TIMEOUT_READ = 3.0
 def prepare_ioc():
 
     config = read_config()
+    pvprefix = config['pvprefix']
 
     """
     This function checks if the test IOC is already running and attempts to
     start it, if that is not the case.
     """
     try:
-        read(f'{config['pvprefix']}:IOCREADY', timeout=TIMEOUT_READ)
+        read(f'{pvprefix}:IOCREADY', timeout=TIMEOUT_READ)
 
         # Reading the check recird was successfull -> We assume that the IOC
         # is running
@@ -33,7 +34,7 @@ def prepare_ioc():
         now = time.time()
         while now + TIMEOUT_IOC_STARTUP < time.time():
             try:
-                read(f'{config['pvprefix']}:IOCREADY', timeout=TIMEOUT_READ)
+                read(f'{pvprefix}:IOCREADY', timeout=TIMEOUT_READ)
                 return
             except TimeoutError:
                 time.sleep(0.5)