diff --git a/extensions/ql-vscode/CHANGELOG.md b/extensions/ql-vscode/CHANGELOG.md
index 37cce6bfdbc..43ebd9058d9 100644
--- a/extensions/ql-vscode/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/extensions/ql-vscode/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 
 ## [UNRELEASED]
 
+- Ensure changes in directories that contain tests will be properly updated in the test explorer. [#846](https://github.com/github/vscode-codeql/pull/846)
+
 ## 1.4.7 - 23 April 2021
 
 - Fix a bug that prevented the results view from being loaded. [#842](https://github.com/github/vscode-codeql/pull/842)
diff --git a/extensions/ql-vscode/src/qltest-discovery.ts b/extensions/ql-vscode/src/qltest-discovery.ts
index 0cda0be3d80..31bd9bf7d0a 100644
--- a/extensions/ql-vscode/src/qltest-discovery.ts
+++ b/extensions/ql-vscode/src/qltest-discovery.ts
@@ -167,9 +167,11 @@ export class QLTestDiscovery extends Discovery<QLTestDiscoveryResults> {
   protected update(results: QLTestDiscoveryResults): void {
     this._testDirectory = results.testDirectory;
 
-    // Watch for changes to any `.ql` or `.qlref` file in any of the QL packs that contain tests.
     this.watcher.clear();
+    // Watch for changes to any `.ql` or `.qlref` file in any of the QL packs that contain tests.
     this.watcher.addWatch(new RelativePattern(results.watchPath, '**/*.{ql,qlref}'));
+    // need to explicitly watch for changes to directories themselves.
+    this.watcher.addWatch(new RelativePattern(results.watchPath, '**/'));
     this._onDidChangeTests.fire();
   }