diff --git a/github/provider_utils.go b/github/provider_utils.go
index d5fa67bd74..4f2602dc19 100644
--- a/github/provider_utils.go
+++ b/github/provider_utils.go
@@ -29,8 +29,8 @@ func testAccPreCheck(t *testing.T) {
 	if v := os.Getenv("GITHUB_TOKEN"); v == "" {
 		t.Fatal("GITHUB_TOKEN must be set for acceptance tests")
 	}
-	if v := os.Getenv("GITHUB_OWNER"); v == "" {
-		t.Fatal("GITHUB_OWNER must be set for acceptance tests")
+	if v := os.Getenv("GITHUB_ORGANIZATION"); v == "" && os.Getenv("GITHUB_OWNER") == "" {
+		t.Fatal("GITHUB_ORGANIZATION or GITHUB_OWNER must be set for acceptance tests")
 	}
 	if v := os.Getenv("GITHUB_TEST_USER"); v == "" {
 		t.Fatal("GITHUB_TEST_USER must be set for acceptance tests")