diff --git a/appveyor.yml b/appveyor.yml
index 86741510b..7b57fd4da 100644
--- a/appveyor.yml
+++ b/appveyor.yml
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ build_script:
   - sbt ++2.10.6 clean compile
   - sbt ++2.10.6 coreJVM/publishLocal cache/publishLocal # to make the scripted tests happy
 test_script:
-  - ps: Start-Job { & java -jar -noverify coursier launch -r https://dl.bintray.com/scalaz/releases io.get-coursier:http-server-java7_2.11:1.0.0-SNAPSHOT -- -d tests/jvm/src/test/resources/test-repo/http/abc.com -u user -P pass -r realm --list-pages -v }
+  - ps: Start-Job -filepath .\scripts\start-it-server.ps1 -ArgumentList $pwd
   - sbt ++2.12.1 testsJVM/test testsJVM/it:test # Would node be around for testsJS/test?
   - sbt ++2.11.8 testsJVM/test testsJVM/it:test
   - sbt ++2.10.6 testsJVM/test testsJVM/it:test sbt-coursier/scripted sbt-coursier/publishLocal sbt-shading/scripted
diff --git a/scripts/start-it-server.ps1 b/scripts/start-it-server.ps1
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8ed31d3b3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/start-it-server.ps1
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+# see https://stackoverflow.com/questions/2224350/powershell-start-job-working-directory/2246542#2246542
+Set-Location $args[0]
+& java -jar -noverify coursier launch -r https://dl.bintray.com/scalaz/releases io.get-coursier:http-server-java7_2.11:1.0.0-SNAPSHOT -- -d tests/jvm/src/test/resources/test-repo/http/abc.com -u user -P pass -r realm --list-pages -v