diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b5ad033..8484ae2 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -8,6 +8,20 @@ The old SOAP webservice will be discontinued in the near future (spring 2015) an
 
 Be aware that update and upload functionality provide special permissions that need to be requested before using those webservice functions. 
 
+Compile the code and run the tests with:
+
+```
+cd org.wikipathways.client
+ant test
+```
+
+If you want to use a different web service, use (for example):
+
+```
+cd org.wikipathways.client
+ant -Dwp.webserver=http://otherservice.wikipathways.org test
+```
+
 ### TODO
 - [x] set up automated testing framework on Jenkins (https://jenkins.bigcat.unimaas.nl/view/WikiPathways/job/WikiPathways%20REST%20Java%20library/)
 - [ ] detailed documentation (JavaDoc!)
diff --git a/org.wikipathways.client/build.xml b/org.wikipathways.client/build.xml
index 109aa44..7551711 100644
--- a/org.wikipathways.client/build.xml
+++ b/org.wikipathways.client/build.xml
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 	<property name="build.dir" value="build"/>
 	
 	<property name="version" value="3.2.3"/>
+	<property name="wp.webserver" value="https://webservice.wikipathways.org"/>
 	
 	<target name="prepare">
 		<delete dir="${build.dir}"/>
@@ -81,6 +82,7 @@
 		</javac>
 		<junit printsummary="on" haltonfailure="false" fork="true" dir=".">
 			<formatter type="xml" usefile="true"/>
+			<sysproperty key="wp.webserver" value="${wp.webserver}"/>
 			<classpath>
 				<pathelement path="${build.dir}"/>
 				<path refid="project.class.path"/>
diff --git a/org.wikipathways.client/test/org/wikipathways/client/test/utils/ConnectionSettings.java b/org.wikipathways.client/test/org/wikipathways/client/test/utils/ConnectionSettings.java
index 8bfa73c..03ce69a 100644
--- a/org.wikipathways.client/test/org/wikipathways/client/test/utils/ConnectionSettings.java
+++ b/org.wikipathways.client/test/org/wikipathways/client/test/utils/ConnectionSettings.java
@@ -22,8 +22,9 @@
 public class ConnectionSettings {
 
 	public static WikiPathwaysClient createClient() throws Exception {
-		URL url = new URL("https://webservice.wikipathways.org");
-//		URL url = new URL("https://rcbranch.wikipathways.org/wpi/webservicetest");
+		URL url = new URL(
+		  System.getProperty("wp.webserver", "https://webservice.wikipathways.org")
+        );
 		return new WikiPathwaysClient(url);
 	}
 }