diff --git a/lib/configParser.js b/lib/configParser.js
index 4ac0ee76a..7fd603d9e 100644
--- a/lib/configParser.js
+++ b/lib/configParser.js
@@ -118,11 +118,14 @@ ConfigParser.getSpecs = function(config) {
     return config.suites[config.suite];
   }
 
-  var specs = config.specs || [];
+  if (config.specs.length > 0) {
+    return config.specs
+  }
+
+  var specs = [];
   _.forEach(config.suites, function(suite) {
     specs = _.union(specs, makeArray(suite));
   });
-
   return specs;
 };