diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index f13dad7..ee780ea 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -91,4 +91,4 @@ mono/*.c
 mono/*.h
 
 # test
-/test/secrets.hh
+/test/secrets.cc
diff --git a/test/secrets.hh b/test/secrets.hh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..18f3da7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/secrets.hh
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+/** @file test/secrets.hh
+ *  @brief variable declarations for working test data
+ *
+ *  Populate those variables in a custom file secrets.cc by defining populate_secrets() accordingly.
+ */
+#include "../src/login.hh"
+
+using namespace pEp::Mail;
+
+std::string mailaddress;
+std::string password;
+Login lsend; // = Login(Login::smtps, "smtp.example.com", 587, "username", password, Login::auth_method_t::START_TLS);
+Login lrecv; // = Login(Login::imaps, "imap.example.com", 143, "username", password, Login::auth_method_t::START_TLS);
+
+void populate_secrets();
diff --git a/test/test_send.cc b/test/test_send.cc
index 02a7bcc..158164d 100644
--- a/test/test_send.cc
+++ b/test/test_send.cc
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv)
     });
 
     // Prepare Config
+    populate_secrets();
     pEpIdent own_ident = createOwnIdent(mailaddress);
 
     pEpTransportMail::ConfigMail cfg{ own_ident.get(), lsend, lrecv };