diff --git a/tests/common.sh.in b/tests/common.sh.in
index 2c47d75eea..b03cd49ec7 100644
--- a/tests/common.sh.in
+++ b/tests/common.sh.in
@@ -18,9 +18,7 @@ export NIX_LIBEXEC_DIR=$TEST_ROOT/bin
 export NIX_ROOT_FINDER=
 export SHARED=$TEST_ROOT/shared
 
-if test -z "$FORCE_NIX_REMOTE"; then
-    export NIX_REMOTE=
-fi
+export NIX_REMOTE=
 
 export REAL_BIN_DIR=@bindir@
 export REAL_LIBEXEC_DIR=@libexecdir@
@@ -77,6 +75,19 @@ clearManifests() {
     rm -f $NIX_STATE_DIR/manifests/*
 }
 
+startDaemon() {
+    $nixworker --daemon &
+    pidDaemon=$!
+    trap "kill -9 $pidDaemon" EXIT
+    export NIX_REMOTE=daemon
+}
+
+killDaemon() {
+    kill -9 $pidDaemon
+    wait $pidDaemon || true
+    trap "" EXIT
+}
+
 fail() {
     echo "$1"
     exit 1
diff --git a/tests/remote-store.sh b/tests/remote-store.sh
index 260fdeb764..e27631a006 100644
--- a/tests/remote-store.sh
+++ b/tests/remote-store.sh
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 source common.sh
 
-export FORCE_NIX_REMOTE=1
-
 echo '*** testing slave mode ***'
 clearStore
 clearManifests
@@ -10,10 +8,6 @@ NIX_REMOTE=slave $SHELL ./user-envs.sh
 echo '*** testing daemon mode ***'
 clearStore
 clearManifests
-$nixworker --daemon &
-pidDaemon=$!
-trap "kill -9 $pidDaemon" EXIT
-NIX_REMOTE=daemon $SHELL ./user-envs.sh
-kill -9 $pidDaemon
-wait $pidDaemon || true
-trap "" EXIT
+startDaemon
+$SHELL ./user-envs.sh
+killDaemon