diff --git a/lib/kitchen/verifier/inspec.rb b/lib/kitchen/verifier/inspec.rb
index 9dabee7..6ec787f 100644
--- a/lib/kitchen/verifier/inspec.rb
+++ b/lib/kitchen/verifier/inspec.rb
@@ -122,7 +122,18 @@ def local_suite_files
         logger.info("Using `#{base}` for testing")
 
         # only return the directory if it exists
-        Pathname.new(base).exist? ? [base] : []
+        Pathname.new(base).exist? ? [{ :path => base }] : []
+      end
+
+      # Takes config[:inspec_tests] and modifies any value with a key of :path by adding the full path
+      # @return [Array] array of modified hashes
+      # @api private
+      def resolve_config_inspec_tests
+        config[:inspec_tests].map do |test_hash|
+          raise Kitchen::UserError, "Please specify your inspec tests using the format `path: path/to/file` or `url: url_address`. See README for more information." unless test_hash.is_a? Hash
+          test_hash = { :path => config[:kitchen_root] + "/" + test_hash[:path] } if test_hash.has_key?(:path)
+          test_hash
+        end
       end
 
       # Returns an array of test profiles
@@ -130,7 +141,7 @@ def local_suite_files
       # @api private
       def collect_tests
         # get local tests and get run list of profiles
-        (local_suite_files + config[:inspec_tests]).compact
+        (local_suite_files + resolve_config_inspec_tests).compact.uniq
       end
 
       # Returns a configuration Hash that can be passed to a `Inspec::Runner`.
diff --git a/spec/kitchen/verifier/inspec_spec.rb b/spec/kitchen/verifier/inspec_spec.rb
index 2d9af8b..763229c 100644
--- a/spec/kitchen/verifier/inspec_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/kitchen/verifier/inspec_spec.rb
@@ -206,11 +206,11 @@
     it "find test directory for runner" do
       ensure_suite_directory("germany")
       allow(Inspec::Runner).to receive(:new).and_return(runner)
-      expect(runner).to receive(:add_target).with(
+      expect(runner).to receive(:add_target).with({ :path =>
         File.join(
           config[:test_base_path],
           "germany"
-        ), anything)
+        ) }, anything)
 
       verifier.call({})
     end
@@ -218,11 +218,11 @@
     it "find test directory for runner if legacy" do
       create_legacy_test_directories
       allow(Inspec::Runner).to receive(:new).and_return(runner)
-      expect(runner).to receive(:add_target).with(
+      expect(runner).to receive(:add_target).with({ :path =>
         File.join(
           config[:test_base_path],
           "germany", "inspec"
-        ), anything)
+        ) }, anything)
 
       verifier.call({})
     end
@@ -274,7 +274,7 @@
 
     let(:config) do
       {
-        inspec_tests: ["https://github.com/nathenharvey/tmp_compliance_profile"],
+        inspec_tests: [{ :url => "https://github.com/nathenharvey/tmp_compliance_profile" }],
         kitchen_root: kitchen_root,
         test_base_path: File.join(kitchen_root, "test", "integration"),
       }
@@ -288,10 +288,10 @@
     it "find test directory and remote profile" do
       ensure_suite_directory("local")
       allow(Inspec::Runner).to receive(:new).and_return(runner)
+      expect(runner).to receive(:add_target).with({ :path =>
+        File.join(config[:test_base_path], "local") }, anything)
       expect(runner).to receive(:add_target).with(
-        File.join(config[:test_base_path], "local"), anything)
-      expect(runner).to receive(:add_target).with(
-        "https://github.com/nathenharvey/tmp_compliance_profile", anything)
+        { :url => "https://github.com/nathenharvey/tmp_compliance_profile" }, anything)
       verifier.call({})
     end
   end