diff --git a/tests/ns/meson.build b/tests/ns/meson.build
index ca0270ca37..7d4e2e30fa 100644
--- a/tests/ns/meson.build
+++ b/tests/ns/meson.build
@@ -14,12 +14,6 @@ foreach unit : [
     'plugin',
     'query',
 ]
-    linkargs = ''
-    if unit == 'plugin'
-        linkargs = [
-            '-Wl,--wrap=isc_file_exists',
-        ]
-    endif
     test_bin = executable(
         unit,
         files(f'@unit@_test.c', 'netmgr_wrap.c'),
@@ -37,7 +31,6 @@ foreach unit : [
             cmocka_dep,
             nghttp2_dep,
         ],
-        link_args: linkargs,
     )
 
     test(
diff --git a/tests/ns/plugin_test.c b/tests/ns/plugin_test.c
index 1de3e7c989..3a23d43476 100644
--- a/tests/ns/plugin_test.c
+++ b/tests/ns/plugin_test.c
@@ -34,17 +34,18 @@
 
 #include <dns/lib.h>
 
-#include "../ns/hooks.c"
-
-bool
-__wrap_isc_file_exists(const char *pathname);
-
-bool
-__wrap_isc_file_exists(const char *pathname) {
+/*
+ * Mocking isc_file_exists() as it's used inside the tested
+ * ns_plugin_expandpath() function defined in lib/ns/hooks.c
+ */
+static bool
+isc_file_exists(const char *pathname) {
 	UNUSED(pathname);
 	return mock();
 }
 
+#include "../ns/hooks.c"
+
 #include <tests/ns.h>
 
 /*%
@@ -75,7 +76,7 @@ run_full_path_test(const ns_plugin_expandpath_test_params_t *test,
 	REQUIRE(test->result != ISC_R_SUCCESS || test->output != NULL);
 
 	if (test->result == ISC_R_SUCCESS) {
-		will_return(__wrap_isc_file_exists, test->exists);
+		will_return(isc_file_exists, test->exists);
 	}
 
 	/*