diff --git a/nixos/lib/test-driver/src/test_driver/machine/__init__.py b/nixos/lib/test-driver/src/test_driver/machine/__init__.py
index 373b0f4d5a1d..52ab43b6d79d 100644
--- a/nixos/lib/test-driver/src/test_driver/machine/__init__.py
+++ b/nixos/lib/test-driver/src/test_driver/machine/__init__.py
@@ -1485,7 +1485,7 @@ class NspawnMachine(BaseMachine):
         assert nsenter is not None
 
         # Pull in /etc/profile, and some shell sanity.
-        command = f"set -eo pipefail; source /etc/profile; set -xu; {command}"
+        command = f"set -eo pipefail; source /etc/profile; set -u; {command}"
         cp = subprocess.run(
             [
                 nsenter,