diff --git a/builtin/logical/ssh/backend_test.go b/builtin/logical/ssh/backend_test.go
index 0bb0058e5..472774f09 100644
--- a/builtin/logical/ssh/backend_test.go
+++ b/builtin/logical/ssh/backend_test.go
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ package ssh
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
-	"os/user"
+	"os"
 	"reflect"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ oOyBJU/HMVvBfv4g+OVFLVgSwwm6owwsouZ0+D/LasbuHqYyqYqdyPJQYzWA2Y+F
 )
 
 func testingFactory(conf *logical.BackendConfig) (logical.Backend, error) {
+	initTest()
 	defaultLeaseTTLVal := 2 * time.Minute
 	maxLeaseTTLVal := 10 * time.Minute
 	return Factory(&logical.BackendConfig{
@@ -77,7 +78,7 @@ var testDynamicRoleData map[string]interface{}
 
 // Starts the server and initializes the servers IP address,
 // port and usernames to be used by the test cases.
-func init() {
+func initTest() {
 	addr, err := vault.StartSSHHostTestServer()
 	if err != nil {
 		panic(fmt.Sprintf("error starting mock server:%s", err))
@@ -85,12 +86,11 @@ func init() {
 	input := strings.Split(addr, ":")
 	testIP = input[0]
 
-	u, err := user.Current()
-	if err != nil {
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf("error getting current username: '%s'", err))
+	testUserName := os.Getenv("VAULT_SSHTEST_USER")
+	if len(testUserName) == 0 {
+		panic("VAULT_SSHTEST_USER must be set to the desired user")
 	}
-	testUserName = u.Username
-	testAdminUser = u.Username
+	testAdminUser = testUserName
 
 	testOTPRoleData = map[string]interface{}{
 		"key_type":     testOTPKeyType,
diff --git a/command/ssh_test.go b/command/ssh_test.go
index 992c8ddb8..03b8e03c1 100644
--- a/command/ssh_test.go
+++ b/command/ssh_test.go
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"os"
-	"os/user"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 
@@ -57,7 +56,7 @@ var testAdminUser string
 
 // Starts the server and initializes the servers IP address,
 // port and usernames to be used by the test cases.
-func init() {
+func initTest() {
 	addr, err := vault.StartSSHHostTestServer()
 	if err != nil {
 		panic(fmt.Sprintf("Error starting mock server:%s", err))
@@ -66,16 +65,16 @@ func init() {
 	testIP = input[0]
 	testPort = input[1]
 
-	u, err := user.Current()
-	if err != nil {
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf("Error getting current username: '%s'", err))
+	testUserName := os.Getenv("VAULT_SSHTEST_USER")
+	if len(testUserName) == 0 {
+		panic("VAULT_SSHTEST_USER must be set to the desired user")
 	}
-	testUserName = u.Username
-	testAdminUser = u.Username
+	testAdminUser = testUserName
 }
 
 // This test is broken. Hence temporarily disabling it.
 func testSSH(t *testing.T) {
+	initTest()
 	// Add the SSH backend to the unsealed test core.
 	// This should be done before the unsealed core is created.
 	err := vault.AddTestLogicalBackend("ssh", logicalssh.Factory)