diff --git a/utils/tests.sh b/utils/tests.sh
index bbb18eb5..82df28f8 100755
--- a/utils/tests.sh
+++ b/utils/tests.sh
@@ -9,4 +9,4 @@ cd "${SECRET_PROJECT_ROOT}"; rm -rf 'tempdir with spaces'; mkdir 'tempdir with s
 
 # bats expects diagnostic lines to be sent to fd 3, matching reges '^ #' (IE, like: `echo '# message here' >&3`)
 # bats ... 3>&1 shows diagnostic output when errors occur.
-bats "${SECRET_PROJECT_ROOT}/tests/" 3>&1
+SECRETS_DIR=.gitsecret-testdir bats "${SECRET_PROJECT_ROOT}/tests/" 3>&1