diff --git a/lib/components.json b/lib/components.json
index eaaf7d4e9fd..cc6dd1f620b 100644
--- a/lib/components.json
+++ b/lib/components.json
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@
         "edufields": null,
         "enrol": "enrol",
         "error": null,
+        "external": "lib/external",
         "favourites": "favourites",
         "filepicker": null,
         "fileconverter": "files\/converter",
diff --git a/lib/tests/component_test.php b/lib/tests/component_test.php
index 4786d381193..320cd50963c 100644
--- a/lib/tests/component_test.php
+++ b/lib/tests/component_test.php
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ class component_test extends advanced_testcase {
      * this is defined here to annoy devs that try to add more without any thinking,
      * always verify that it does not collide with any existing add-on modules and subplugins!!!
      */
-    const SUBSYSTEMCOUNT = 75;
+    const SUBSYSTEMCOUNT = 76;
 
     public function setUp(): void {
         $psr0namespaces = new ReflectionProperty('core_component', 'psr0namespaces');
diff --git a/phpunit.xml.dist b/phpunit.xml.dist
index dfa0b7060ae..eecc06f6065 100644
--- a/phpunit.xml.dist
+++ b/phpunit.xml.dist
@@ -49,6 +49,9 @@
       <directory suffix="_test.php">lib/tests</directory>
       <!-- <directory suffix="_test.php">lib/ajax/tests</directory> -->
     </testsuite>
+    <testsuite name="core_external_testsuite">
+      <directory suffix="_test.php">lib/external/tests</directory>
+    </testsuite>
     <testsuite name="core_favourites_testsuite">
       <directory suffix="_test.php">favourites/tests</directory>
     </testsuite>
@@ -127,9 +130,6 @@
     <testsuite name="core_group_testsuite">
       <directory suffix="_test.php">group/tests</directory>
     </testsuite>
-    <testsuite name="core_external_testsuite">
-      <directory suffix="_test.php">lib/external/tests</directory>
-    </testsuite>
     <testsuite name="core_message_testsuite">
       <directory suffix="_test.php">message/tests</directory>
     </testsuite>