diff --git a/vlib/v/tests/valgrind/fn_returning_string_param.vv b/vlib/v/tests/valgrind/fn_returning_string_param.v
similarity index 100%
rename from vlib/v/tests/valgrind/fn_returning_string_param.vv
rename to vlib/v/tests/valgrind/fn_returning_string_param.v
diff --git a/vlib/v/tests/valgrind/valgrind_test.v b/vlib/v/tests/valgrind/valgrind_test.v
index 2d5c89f568..624c56928d 100644
--- a/vlib/v/tests/valgrind/valgrind_test.v
+++ b/vlib/v/tests/valgrind/valgrind_test.v
@@ -43,38 +43,32 @@ fn test_all() {
 	os.mkdir_all(wrkdir)
 	os.chdir(wrkdir)
 	//
-	tests := vtest.filter_vtest_only(files.filter(it.ends_with('.vv')), {
+	tests := vtest.filter_vtest_only(files.filter(it.ends_with('.v') && !it.ends_with('_test.v')), {
 		basepath: valgrind_test_path
 	})
 	bench.set_total_expected_steps(tests.len)
-	for dir_test_path in tests {
+	for test in tests {
 		bench.step()
-		test_basename := os.file_name(dir_test_path).replace('.vv', '')
-		v_filename := '$wrkdir/${test_basename}.v'
-		exe_filename := '$wrkdir/$test_basename'
-		full_test_path := os.real_path(os.join_path(vroot, dir_test_path))
+		exe_filename := '$wrkdir/x'
 		//
-		if dir_test_path in skip_valgrind_files {
+		if test in skip_valgrind_files {
 			$if !noskip ? {
 				bench.skip()
-				eprintln(bench.step_message_skip(dir_test_path))
+				eprintln(bench.step_message_skip(test))
 				continue
 			}
 		}
-		vprintln('$dir_test_path => $v_filename')
 		//
-		vprintln('cp $full_test_path $v_filename')
-		os.cp(full_test_path, v_filename)
-		compile_cmd := '$vexe -cg -cflags "-w" -autofree $v_filename'
+		compile_cmd := '$vexe -o $exe_filename -cg -cflags "-w" -autofree $test'
 		vprintln('compile cmd: ${util.bold(compile_cmd)}')
 		res := os.exec(compile_cmd) or {
 			bench.fail()
-			eprintln(bench.step_message_fail('valgrind $dir_test_path failed'))
+			eprintln(bench.step_message_fail('valgrind $test failed'))
 			continue
 		}
 		if res.exit_code != 0 {
 			bench.fail()
-			eprintln(bench.step_message_fail('file: $dir_test_path could not be compiled.'))
+			eprintln(bench.step_message_fail('file: $test could not be compiled.'))
 			eprintln(res.output)
 			continue
 		}
@@ -87,12 +81,12 @@ fn test_all() {
 		}
 		if valgrind_res.exit_code != 0 {
 			bench.fail()
-			eprintln(bench.step_message_fail('failed valgrind check for ${util.bold(dir_test_path)}'))
+			eprintln(bench.step_message_fail('failed valgrind check for ${util.bold(test)}'))
 			eprintln(valgrind_res.output)
 			continue
 		}
 		bench.ok()
-		eprintln(bench.step_message_ok(dir_test_path))
+		eprintln(bench.step_message_ok(test))
 	}
 	bench.stop()
 	eprintln(term.h_divider('-'))