diff --git a/.testr.conf b/.testr.conf
index 1036ba0ca0ed..4bc514d62b49 100644
--- a/.testr.conf
+++ b/.testr.conf
@@ -1,4 +1,8 @@
 [DEFAULT]
-test_command=OS_STDOUT_CAPTURE=1 OS_STDERR_CAPTURE=1 OS_TEST_TIMEOUT=60 ${PYTHON:-python} -m subunit.run discover -t ./ ./nova/tests $LISTOPT $IDOPTION
+test_command=OS_STDOUT_CAPTURE=${OS_STDOUT_CAPTURE:-1} \
+             OS_STDERR_CAPTURE=${OS_STDERR_CAPTURE:-1} \
+             OS_TEST_TIMEOUT=${OS_TEST_TIMEOUT:-60} \
+             ${PYTHON:-python} -m subunit.run discover -t ./ ./nova/tests $LISTOPT $IDOPTION
+
 test_id_option=--load-list $IDFILE
 test_list_option=--list