diff --git a/logstash-core/lib/logstash-core/logstash-core.rb b/logstash-core/lib/logstash-core/logstash-core.rb
index 1d39ad9e8..8c452b0d2 100644
--- a/logstash-core/lib/logstash-core/logstash-core.rb
+++ b/logstash-core/lib/logstash-core/logstash-core.rb
@@ -9,10 +9,12 @@ require "logstash-core_jars"
 
 # local dev setup
 classes_dir = File.expand_path("../../../build/classes/main", __FILE__)
+resources_dir = File.expand_path("../../../build/resources/main", __FILE__)
 
-if File.directory?(classes_dir)
+if File.directory?(classes_dir) && File.directory?(resources_dir)
   # if in local dev setup, add target to classpath
   $CLASSPATH << classes_dir unless $CLASSPATH.include?(classes_dir)
+  $CLASSPATH << resources_dir unless $CLASSPATH.include?(resources_dir)
 else
   # otherwise use included jar
   begin