diff --git a/gracedb/buildVOEvent.py b/gracedb/buildVOEvent.py
index c8624d3709f00cfe03d78454481a0c59074b0fca..350ba3155108676d3db552d332b5323f9538689d 100755
--- a/gracedb/buildVOEvent.py
+++ b/gracedb/buildVOEvent.py
@@ -69,6 +69,8 @@ def buildVOEvent(event, serial_number, voevent_type, request=None, skymap_filena
 
     if event.search and event.search.name == 'MDC':
         v.set_role("test")
+    elif event.group.name == 'Test':
+        v.set_role("test")
     else:
         v.set_role("observation")
     if voevent_type != 'retraction':