diff --git a/test/api/pytest.sh b/test/api/pytest.sh
index e4e09946d..ea53dbdf2 100644
--- a/test/api/pytest.sh
+++ b/test/api/pytest.sh
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ if [[ -n "$abs_top_builddir" ]]; then
     fi
   fi
 
-  PYTHONPATH=$(dirname "${python_lib[*]}"):$PYTHONPATH
+  PYTHONPATH=$(dirname "${python_lib[*]}"):${PYTHONPATH-}
   export PYTHONPATH
 elif rpm -q lvm2-python-libs &>/dev/null; then
   true
diff --git a/test/shell/inconsistent-metadata.sh b/test/shell/inconsistent-metadata.sh
index 36d7038cc..358ffcb1b 100644
--- a/test/shell/inconsistent-metadata.sh
+++ b/test/shell/inconsistent-metadata.sh
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ init() {
 }
 
 # vgscan fixes up metadata (needs --cache option for direct scan if lvmetad is used)
+cache=""
 test -e LOCAL_LVMETAD && cache="--cache"
 init
 vgscan $cache 2>&1 | tee cmd.out