diff --git a/pkg/env/env.go b/pkg/env/env.go
index a16007a509..0d55e55607 100644
--- a/pkg/env/env.go
+++ b/pkg/env/env.go
@@ -12,14 +12,16 @@ import (
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 )
 
-// DefaultEnvVariables sets $PATH and $TERM.
-var DefaultEnvVariables = map[string]string{
-	"PATH": "/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin",
-	"TERM": "xterm",
-}
-
 const whiteSpaces = " \t"
 
+// DefaultEnvVariables returns a default environment, with $PATH and $TERM set.
+func DefaultEnvVariables() map[string]string {
+	return map[string]string{
+		"PATH": "/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin",
+		"TERM": "xterm",
+	}
+}
+
 // Slice transforms the specified map of environment variables into a
 // slice. If a value is non-empty, the key and value are joined with '='.
 func Slice(m map[string]string) []string {
diff --git a/pkg/spec/spec.go b/pkg/spec/spec.go
index c7a838d4ca..893ae3cab7 100644
--- a/pkg/spec/spec.go
+++ b/pkg/spec/spec.go
@@ -321,13 +321,13 @@ func (config *CreateConfig) createConfigToOCISpec(runtime *libpod.Runtime, userM
 	// config.
 	var defaultEnv map[string]string
 	if runtimeConfig == nil {
-		defaultEnv = env.DefaultEnvVariables
+		defaultEnv = env.DefaultEnvVariables()
 	} else {
 		defaultEnv, err = env.ParseSlice(runtimeConfig.Containers.Env)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "Env fields in containers.conf failed ot parse")
 		}
-		defaultEnv = env.Join(env.DefaultEnvVariables, defaultEnv)
+		defaultEnv = env.Join(env.DefaultEnvVariables(), defaultEnv)
 	}
 
 	if err := addRlimits(config, &g); err != nil {