diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/common.config b/tests/qemu-iotests/common.config
index d07f435696..a220684b0f 100644
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/common.config
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/common.config
@@ -121,6 +121,8 @@ if [ ! -d "$TEST_DIR" ]; then
     exit 1
 fi
 
+export TEST_DIR
+
 _readlink()
 {
     if [ $# -ne 1 ]; then