diff --git a/ava.config.js b/ava.config.js
index 98a7249e0..074511f1b 100644
--- a/ava.config.js
+++ b/ava.config.js
@@ -14,9 +14,10 @@ function getBoolean(value) {
 }
 
 const useCompiledTests = getBoolean(process.env.USE_COMPILED_TESTS);
+const testWorkFile = getBoolean(process.env.TEST_WORK_FILE);
 
 const avaCommonConfig = {
-  files: ["tests/**/!(_)*.test.*"],
+  files: testWorkFile ? ["tests/**/work.test.*"] : ["tests/**/!(work)*.test.*"],
   timeout: "5m",
 };
 
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 782e5dd56..8b685cb5e 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@
     "lint": "eslint .",
     "lint-fix": "yarn lint --fix",
     "test": "nyc ava",
-    "test-work": "ava 'tests/rules/_work.test.ts'",
+    "test-work": "TEST_WORK_FILE=1 ava",
     "verify": "yarn build && yarn lint && yarn build-tests && yarn test-compiled && rimraf build",
     "preversion": "yarn verify",
     "version": "auto-changelog -p && git add CHANGELOG.md",
diff --git a/tests/rules/_work.test.ts b/tests/rules/work.test.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from tests/rules/_work.test.ts
rename to tests/rules/work.test.ts