diff --git a/tests/common.sh.in b/tests/common.sh.in
index fa54bcd485..32759bab01 100644
--- a/tests/common.sh.in
+++ b/tests/common.sh.in
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ export NIX_LIBEXEC_DIR=$TEST_ROOT/bin
 export NIX_ROOT_FINDER=
 export SHARED=$TEST_ROOT/shared
 
+export NIX_REMOTE=
+
 export REAL_BIN_DIR=@bindir@
 export REAL_LIBEXEC_DIR=@libexecdir@
 export REAL_LOCALSTATE_DIR=@localstatedir@