diff --git a/pkg/config/env.go b/pkg/config/env.go
index e799f58b..c0358dbb 100644
--- a/pkg/config/env.go
+++ b/pkg/config/env.go
@@ -14,7 +14,17 @@ import (
 	"github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
 )
 
-var ABRA_DIR = os.ExpandEnv("$HOME/.abra")
+// getBaseDir retrieves the Abra base directory.
+func getBaseDir() string {
+	home := os.ExpandEnv("$HOME/.abra")
+	if _, exists := os.LookupEnv("ABRA_TEST"); exists {
+		home = os.ExpandEnv("$HOME/.abra_test")
+		logrus.Debugf("running under test mode as requested (ABRA_TEST)")
+	}
+	return home
+}
+
+var ABRA_DIR = getBaseDir()
 var SERVERS_DIR = path.Join(ABRA_DIR, "servers")
 var RECIPES_DIR = path.Join(ABRA_DIR, "recipes")
 var VENDOR_DIR = path.Join(ABRA_DIR, "vendor")