diff --git a/tests/unit/test_helper.bash b/tests/unit/test_helper.bash
index ac759139a..93be07b18 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_helper.bash
+++ b/tests/unit/test_helper.bash
@@ -375,8 +375,7 @@ deploy_app() {
 }
 
 setup_client_repo() {
-  local TMP
-  TMP=$(mktemp -d "/tmp/${DOKKU_DOMAIN}.XXXXX")
+  declare TMP=${1:=$(mktemp -d "/tmp/${DOKKU_DOMAIN}.XXXXX")}
   rmdir "$TMP" && cp -r "${BATS_TEST_DIRNAME}/../../tests/apps/nodejs-express" "$TMP"
   cd "$TMP" || exit 1
   git init