diff --git a/tests/test-sysroot.js b/tests/test-sysroot.js
index d7d3dab3..4da55d0f 100755
--- a/tests/test-sysroot.js
+++ b/tests/test-sysroot.js
@@ -42,6 +42,8 @@ print('1..1')
 
 libtestExec('setup_os_repository archive-z2 syslinux');
 
+GLib.setenv("OSTREE_SYSROOT_DEBUG", "mutable-deployments", true);
+
 let upstreamRepo = OSTree.Repo.new(Gio.File.new_for_path('testos-repo'));
 upstreamRepo.open(null);