diff --git a/linux/tests/test-active-cpus.c b/linux/tests/test-active-cpus.c
index 1360de07e40..26355642d04 100644
--- a/linux/tests/test-active-cpus.c
+++ b/linux/tests/test-active-cpus.c
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ static void set_cpuset(cpu_set_t *cpuset, int ncpus) {
 
 int main(void) {
     int r;
+    r = unsetenv("TOKU_NCPUS"); 
+    assert(r == 0);
 
     int max_cpus = sysconf(_SC_NPROCESSORS_ONLN);
     assert(toku_os_get_number_active_processors() == max_cpus);