diff --git a/tests/scripts/test_main.py b/tests/scripts/test_main.py
index f343396..4cb2265 100644
--- a/tests/scripts/test_main.py
+++ b/tests/scripts/test_main.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 import os
 import sys
+import textwrap
 
 from pytest_bdd.scripts import main
 
@@ -16,3 +17,67 @@ def test_main(monkeypatch, capsys):
     out, err = capsys.readouterr()
     assert "usage: pytest-bdd [-h]" in err
     assert "pytest-bdd: error:" in err
+
+
+def test_step_definitions_found_using_main(pytester):
+    """Issue 173: Ensure step definitions are found when using pytest.main."""
+    pytester.makefile(
+        ".feature",
+        outline=textwrap.dedent(
+            """\
+            Feature: Outlined Scenarios
+
+                Scenario Outline: Outlined given, when, then
+                    Given there are <start> cucumbers
+                    When I eat <eat> cucumbers
+                    Then I should have <left> cucumbers
+
+                    Examples:
+                        | start | eat | left |
+                        |  12   |  5  |  7   |
+            """
+        ),
+    )
+
+    pytester.makepyfile(
+        textwrap.dedent(
+            """\
+            from pytest_bdd import given, when, then, parsers, scenarios
+
+            scenarios(".")
+
+            @given(parsers.parse("there are {start:d} cucumbers"), target_fixture="cucumbers")
+            def _(start):
+                assert isinstance(start, int)
+                return {"start": start}
+
+
+            @when(parsers.parse("I eat {eat:g} cucumbers"))
+            def _(cucumbers, eat):
+                assert isinstance(eat, float)
+                cucumbers["eat"] = eat
+
+
+            @then(parsers.parse("I should have {left} cucumbers"))
+            def _(cucumbers, left):
+                assert isinstance(left, str)
+                assert cucumbers["start"] - cucumbers["eat"] == int(left)
+            """
+        )
+    )
+
+    pytester.makepyfile(
+        main=textwrap.dedent(
+            """\
+            import pytest
+            import os
+
+            # Programmatically run pytest
+            if __name__ == "__main__":
+                pytest.main([os.path.abspath("test_step_definitions_found_using_main.py")])
+            """
+        )
+    )
+
+    result = pytester.runpython(pytester.path / "main.py")
+    result.assert_outcomes(passed=1, failed=0)