diff --git a/tests/commandtest.c b/tests/commandtest.c
index 4a798fc91e..dd6c24887d 100644
--- a/tests/commandtest.c
+++ b/tests/commandtest.c
@@ -773,6 +773,13 @@ mymain(void)
     setpgid(0, 0);
     setsid();
 
+
+    /* Prime the debug/verbose settings from the env vars,
+     * since we're about to reset 'environ' */
+    virTestGetDebug();
+    virTestGetVerbose();
+
+    virInitialize();
     /* Kill off any inherited fds that might interfere with our
      * testing.  */
     fd = 3;
@@ -782,8 +789,6 @@ mymain(void)
     fd = 5;
     VIR_FORCE_CLOSE(fd);
 
-    virInitialize();
-
     environ = (char **)newenv;
 
 # define DO_TEST(NAME)                                                \