diff --git a/tests/common.sh.in b/tests/common.sh.in
index 031a0d66d1..abefb7e250 100644
--- a/tests/common.sh.in
+++ b/tests/common.sh.in
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ export NIX_DB_DIR=$TEST_ROOT/db
 export NIX_CONF_DIR=$TEST_ROOT/etc
 export NIX_MANIFESTS_DIR=$TEST_ROOT/var/nix/manifests
 export SHARED=$TEST_ROOT/shared
+export NIX_REMOTE=$NIX_REMOTE_
 
 export PATH=@bindir@:$PATH
 
diff --git a/tests/remote-store.sh b/tests/remote-store.sh
index e27631a006..ef289ab79a 100644
--- a/tests/remote-store.sh
+++ b/tests/remote-store.sh
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ source common.sh
 echo '*** testing slave mode ***'
 clearStore
 clearManifests
-NIX_REMOTE=slave $SHELL ./user-envs.sh
+NIX_REMOTE_=slave $SHELL ./user-envs.sh
 
 echo '*** testing daemon mode ***'
 clearStore