diff --git a/beego.go b/beego.go
index 9c34c9f9..1ee4c65f 100644
--- a/beego.go
+++ b/beego.go
@@ -336,7 +336,7 @@ func initBeforeHttpRun() {
 // this function is for test package init
 func TestBeegoInit(apppath string) {
 	AppPath = apppath
-	RunMode = "test"
+	os.Setenv("BEEGO_RUNMODE", "test")
 	AppConfigPath = filepath.Join(AppPath, "conf", "app.conf")
 	err := ParseConfig()
 	if err != nil && !os.IsNotExist(err) {