diff --git a/t/test-lib.sh b/t/test-lib.sh
index d18387c255..908ddb9c46 100644
--- a/t/test-lib.sh
+++ b/t/test-lib.sh
@@ -1439,6 +1439,7 @@ test -z "$NO_GETTEXT" && test_set_prereq GETTEXT
 if test -n "$GIT_TEST_GETTEXT_POISON_ORIG"
 then
 	GIT_TEST_GETTEXT_POISON=$GIT_TEST_GETTEXT_POISON_ORIG
+	export GIT_TEST_GETTEXT_POISON
 	unset GIT_TEST_GETTEXT_POISON_ORIG
 fi