diff --git a/tests/__main__.py b/tests/__main__.py
index e6b23ef82..441399c4d 100644
--- a/tests/__main__.py
+++ b/tests/__main__.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ os.chdir(REPO_ROOT)
 
 os.putenv('PATH', '{}:{}'.format(os.path.join(REPO_ROOT, 'bin'), os.getenv('PATH')))
 os.putenv('DVC_HOME', REPO_ROOT)
+os.putenv('DVC_TEST', 'true')
 
 cmd = 'nosetests -v --processes=-1 --process-timeout=200 --cover-inclusive --cover-erase --cover-package=dvc --with-coverage'
 check_call(cmd, shell=True)