diff --git a/tests/test_closing.py b/tests/test_closing.py
index 29823690f..1a79bbb55 100644
--- a/tests/test_closing.py
+++ b/tests/test_closing.py
@@ -2,8 +2,10 @@ from fixtures import *  # noqa: F401,F403
 
 import os
 
+with open('config.vars') as configfile:
+    config = dict([(line.rstrip().split('=', 1)) for line in configfile])
 
-DEVELOPER = os.getenv("DEVELOPER", "0") == "1"
+DEVELOPER = os.getenv("DEVELOPER", config['DEVELOPER']) == "1"
 
 
 def test_closing_id(node_factory):
diff --git a/tests/test_gossip.py b/tests/test_gossip.py
index 6a0ebcce8..20406e458 100644
--- a/tests/test_gossip.py
+++ b/tests/test_gossip.py
@@ -6,7 +6,10 @@ import time
 import unittest
 
 
-DEVELOPER = os.getenv("DEVELOPER", "0") == "1"
+with open('config.vars') as configfile:
+    config = dict([(line.rstrip().split('=', 1)) for line in configfile])
+
+DEVELOPER = os.getenv("DEVELOPER", config['DEVELOPER']) == "1"
 
 
 @unittest.skipIf(not DEVELOPER, "needs --dev-broadcast-interval, --dev-channelupdate-interval")