diff --git a/ci-operator/step-registry/openstack/test/openstack-ote/openstack-test-openstack-ote-commands.sh b/ci-operator/step-registry/openstack/test/openstack-ote/openstack-test-openstack-ote-commands.sh
index a15727795873f..1124d01e231bc 100755
--- a/ci-operator/step-registry/openstack/test/openstack-ote/openstack-test-openstack-ote-commands.sh
+++ b/ci-operator/step-registry/openstack/test/openstack-ote/openstack-test-openstack-ote-commands.sh
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ set -Eeuo pipefail
 export OS_CLIENT_CONFIG_FILE="${SHARED_DIR}/clouds.yaml"
 export PATH=/usr/libexec/origin:$PATH
 
-declare TEST_ARGS=''
+declare TEST_ARGS="${TEST_ARGS:-}"
 
 # Force the IPv6 endpoint
 if [[ "${CONFIG_TYPE}" == *"singlestackv6"* ]]; then
diff --git a/ci-operator/step-registry/openstack/test/openstack/openstack-test-openstack-commands.sh b/ci-operator/step-registry/openstack/test/openstack/openstack-test-openstack-commands.sh
index 817a49385f17c..c0aacf1423a2e 100644
--- a/ci-operator/step-registry/openstack/test/openstack/openstack-test-openstack-commands.sh
+++ b/ci-operator/step-registry/openstack/test/openstack/openstack-test-openstack-commands.sh
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ set -Eeuo pipefail
 
 export OS_CLIENT_CONFIG_FILE="${SHARED_DIR}/clouds.yaml"
 
-declare TEST_ARGS=''
+declare TEST_ARGS="${TEST_ARGS:-}"
 
 # Force the IPv6 endpoint
 if [[ "${CONFIG_TYPE}" == *"singlestackv6"* ]]; then