diff --git a/build.xml b/build.xml
index cea71f8da..b886b95bf 100644
--- a/build.xml
+++ b/build.xml
@@ -277,9 +277,12 @@
 
 <!-- ====================================================================== -->
 
-  <!-- Used to obtain more detailed info on test failures -->
-  <target name="test"  depends="compile.tests"
-          description="Run all unit test cases">
+  <!-- Tests collections, either running all or one test -->
+  <target name="test" depends="-test-all,-test-single"
+          description="Run unit tests" />
+
+  <!-- Runs all tests -->
+  <target name="-test-all" depends="compile.tests" unless="testcase">
     <junit printsummary="yes" haltonfailure="yes" showoutput="yes">
       <formatter type="brief" />
       <classpath>
@@ -304,6 +307,22 @@
     </junit>
   </target>
 
+  <!-- Runs a single test -->
+  <target name="-test-single" depends="compile.tests" if="testcase">
+    <junit printsummary="yes" haltonfailure="yes" showoutput="yes">
+      <formatter type="brief" />
+      <classpath>
+        <pathelement location="${build.classes}"/>
+        <pathelement location="${build.tests}"/>
+        <pathelement location="${junit.jar}"/>
+      </classpath>
+
+      <test name="${testcase}" fork="yes">
+        <formatter type="brief" usefile="false" />
+      </test>
+    </junit>
+  </target>
+
 <!-- ====================================================================== -->
 
   <target name="testjar"  depends="compile.tests,jar"
diff --git a/xdocs/building.xml b/xdocs/building.xml
index 956c33ad9..990c54b6e 100644
--- a/xdocs/building.xml
+++ b/xdocs/building.xml
@@ -37,6 +37,10 @@ limitations under the License.
     To build a jar file, change into Collection's root directory and run "ant jar".
     The result will be in the "build" subdirectory.
   </p>
+  <p>
+    All tests can be run with "ant test".
+    A single test can be run with "ant -Dtestcase=org.apache.commons.collections.TestXxx test".
+  </p>
   <p>
     To build the Javadocs, run "ant javadoc".
     The result will be in "build/docs/apidocs".