diff --git a/src/coordinator.py b/src/coordinator.py
index c1bb8cb..24373f3 100644
--- a/src/coordinator.py
+++ b/src/coordinator.py
@@ -70,6 +70,8 @@ class Coordinator:
     def run_test(self):
         logger.info("calling run_test()")
         self.runners: list[Runner] = self._load_runners(self.env_files)
+        for runner in self.runners:
+            runner.run_setup()
         for runner in self.runners:
             runner.run_tests()
         for runner in self.runners:
diff --git a/src/runner.py b/src/runner.py
index 4b97275..ce8db3b 100644
--- a/src/runner.py
+++ b/src/runner.py
@@ -34,7 +34,21 @@ class Runner:
         assert self.test_dir_name
         self.root_dir = Path(__file__).parent
 
+    def run_setup(self):
+        """runs the setup script if available"""
+        if not self._dependencies_passed():
+            logger.warning(f"skipping run_tests() of {self.name}, because some dependencies have not passed")
+            return
+
+        # run main setup if available
+        if isinstance(self.main_setup_name, str):
+            self._run_or_skip_test(
+                identifier_string=self.combine_names(self.name, self.main_setup_name),
+                test_path=self.root_dir / self.test_dir_name / self.main_setup_name,
+            )
+
     def run_tests(self):
+        """runs the main test script and if available and sub test scripts if their running condition is met"""
         # check if required dependencies have passed
         if not self._dependencies_passed():
             logger.warning(f"skipping run_tests() of {self.name}, because some dependencies have not passed")
@@ -66,6 +80,7 @@ class Runner:
                 self._create_result_file(result=-1, identifier_string=identifier_string)
 
     def run_cleanup(self):
+        """runs the cleanup script if available"""
         if not self._dependencies_passed():
             logger.warning("skipping run_cleanup() of {self.name}, because some dependencies have not passed")
             return