diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 200c12f..b325771 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -112,8 +112,8 @@ set(META_APP_URL "https://github.com/${META_APP_AUTHOR}/${META_PROJECT_NAME}")
 set(META_APP_DESCRIPTION "Useful C++ classes and routines such as argument parser, IO and conversion utilities")
 set(META_FEATURES_FOR_COMPILER_DETECTION_HEADER cxx_thread_local)
 set(META_VERSION_MAJOR 5)
-set(META_VERSION_MINOR 4)
-set(META_VERSION_PATCH 1)
+set(META_VERSION_MINOR 5)
+set(META_VERSION_PATCH 0)
 
 # find required 3rd party libraries
 include(3rdParty)
diff --git a/tests/testutils.cpp b/tests/testutils.cpp
index 8a74f39..f41e1dd 100644
--- a/tests/testutils.cpp
+++ b/tests/testutils.cpp
@@ -361,8 +361,8 @@ string TestApplication::workingCopyPathAs(
  * \brief Executes an application with the specified \a args.
  * \remarks Provides internal implementation of execApp() and execHelperApp().
  */
-int execAppInternal(const char *appPath, const char *const *args, std::string &output, std::string &errors, bool suppressLogging, int timeout,
-    const std::string &newProfilingPath)
+static int execAppInternal(const char *appPath, const char *const *args, std::string &output, std::string &errors, bool suppressLogging, int timeout,
+    const std::string &newProfilingPath, bool enableSearchPath = false)
 {
     // print log message
     if (!suppressLogging) {
@@ -460,7 +460,12 @@ int execAppInternal(const char *appPath, const char *const *args, std::string &o
         }
 
         // -> execute application
-        execv(appPath, const_cast<char *const *>(args));
+        if (enableSearchPath) {
+            execvp(appPath, const_cast<char *const *>(args));
+
+        } else {
+            execv(appPath, const_cast<char *const *>(args));
+        }
         cerr << Phrases::Error << "Unable to execute \"" << appPath << "\": execv() failed" << Phrases::EndFlush;
         exit(-101);
     }
@@ -538,6 +543,22 @@ int execHelperApp(const char *appPath, const char *const *args, std::string &out
 {
     return execAppInternal(appPath, args, output, errors, suppressLogging, timeout, string());
 }
+
+/*!
+ * \brief Executes an application with the specified \a args.
+ *
+ * Searches for the location of \a appName among the directories specified by the PATH environment variable.
+ *
+ * \remarks
+ * - Intended to invoke helper applications (eg. to setup test files). Use execApp() and TestApplication::execApp() to
+ *   invoke the application to be tested itself.
+ * - Currently only supported under UNIX.
+ */
+int execHelperAppInSearchPath(
+    const char *appName, const char *const *args, std::string &output, std::string &errors, bool suppressLogging, int timeout)
+{
+    return execAppInternal(appName, args, output, errors, suppressLogging, timeout, string(), true);
+}
 #endif // PLATFORM_UNIX
 
 /*!
diff --git a/tests/testutils.h b/tests/testutils.h
index 638eff3..4d16901 100644
--- a/tests/testutils.h
+++ b/tests/testutils.h
@@ -181,6 +181,8 @@ inline CPP_UTILITIES_EXPORT int execApp(const char *const *args, std::string &ou
 
 CPP_UTILITIES_EXPORT int execHelperApp(
     const char *appPath, const char *const *args, std::string &output, std::string &errors, bool suppressLogging = false, int timeout = -1);
+CPP_UTILITIES_EXPORT int execHelperAppInSearchPath(
+    const char *appName, const char *const *args, std::string &output, std::string &errors, bool suppressLogging = false, int timeout = -1);
 #endif // PLATFORM_UNIX
 
 /*!