doing this the less stupid way

islandora.module

@@ -1766,8 +1766,9 @@ function islandora_islandora_datastream_modified(AbstractObject $object, Abstrac
  */
 function islandora_form_simpletest_test_form_alter(array &$form) {
   module_load_include('inc', 'simpletest', 'simpletest.pages');
-
-  $filter_path = variable_get('islandora_simpletest_drupal_filter_path', '/usr/local/fedora/server/config/filter-drupal.xml');
+  module_load_include('inc', 'islandora', 'tests/includes/test_utility_abstraction');
+  $configuration = IslandoraTestUtilityClass::getTestConfiguration();
+  $filter_path = variable_get('islandora_simpletest_drupal_filter_path', $configuration['drupal_filter_file']);
   $filter_status = is_writable($filter_path);
   if ($filter_status) {
     $filter_status_message = theme_image(array('path' => 'misc/watchdog-ok.png', 'attributes' => array())) . " ";
@@ -1781,6 +1782,7 @@ function islandora_form_simpletest_test_form_alter(array &$form) {
       '!filter_path' => $filter_path,
     ));
   }
+
   $form['tests'] = array(
     '#type' => 'fieldset',
     '#title' => t('Tests'),
@@ -1833,6 +1835,8 @@ function islandora_form_simpletest_test_form_alter(array &$form) {
  * Implements hook_form_alter().
  */
 function islandora_form_simpletest_settings_form_alter(&$form, &$form_state) {
+  module_load_include('inc', 'islandora', 'tests/includes/test_utility_abstraction');
+  $configuration = IslandoraTestUtilityClass::getTestConfiguration();
   $form['islandora_drupal_filter'] = array(
     '#type' => 'fieldset',
     '#title' => t('Islandora Drupal Filter Location'),
@@ -1843,7 +1847,7 @@ function islandora_form_simpletest_settings_form_alter(&$form, &$form_state) {
     '#type' => 'textfield',
     '#title' => t('Path to the Drupal Filter'),
     '#description' => t('The absolute path on the server to the Drupal filter XML file in the Fedora configuration. NOTE: This is simply used to populate the at-a-glance "is the Filter writeable" notice on the top of the list of tests, and DOES NOT actually have any bearing on its function within Islandora.'),
-    '#default_value' => variable_get('islandora_simpletest_drupal_filter_path', '/usr/local/fedora/server/config/filter-drupal.xml'),
+    '#default_value' => variable_get('islandora_simpletest_drupal_filter_path', $configuration['drupal_filter_file']),
   );
 }