diff --git a/nixos/lib/test-driver/test-driver.py b/nixos/lib/test-driver/test-driver.py
index 9d89960876eb..dff31a8f8e1e 100644
--- a/nixos/lib/test-driver/test-driver.py
+++ b/nixos/lib/test-driver/test-driver.py
@@ -749,7 +749,7 @@ def run_tests() -> None:
     if tests is not None:
         with log.nested("running the VM test script"):
             try:
-                exec(tests)
+                exec(tests, globals())
             except Exception as e:
                 eprint("error: {}".format(str(e)))
                 sys.exit(1)