diff --git a/.testr.conf b/.testr.conf
index abaf14a..4f6e0b3 100644
--- a/.testr.conf
+++ b/.testr.conf
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 test_command=OS_STDOUT_CAPTURE=${OS_STDOUT_CAPTURE:-1} \
              OS_STDERR_CAPTURE=${OS_STDERR_CAPTURE:-1} \
              OS_TEST_TIMEOUT=${OS_TEST_TIMEOUT:-500} \
+             OS_TEST_LOCK_PATH=${OS_TEST_LOCK_PATH:-${TMPDIR:-'/tmp'}} \
              ${PYTHON:-python} -m subunit.run discover -t ./ ${OS_TEST_PATH:-./tempest/test_discover} $LISTOPT $IDOPTION
 test_id_option=--load-list $IDFILE
 test_list_option=--list