diff --git a/nova/tests/test_virt.py b/nova/tests/test_virt.py
index df29e69c2..e6beb8e2e 100644
--- a/nova/tests/test_virt.py
+++ b/nova/tests/test_virt.py
@@ -246,7 +246,7 @@ class LibvirtConnTestCase(test.TestCase):
                                  {'allocated':   True,
                                   'instance_id': instance_ref['id']})
 
-        FLAGS.libvirt_type = 'lxc'
+        self.flags(libvirt_type='lxc')
         conn = libvirt_conn.LibvirtConnection(True)
 
         uri = conn.get_uri()