diff --git a/crates/ark/tests/rstudioapi.rs b/crates/ark/tests/rstudioapi.rs
index 38441bbab..4c5c0b1be 100644
--- a/crates/ark/tests/rstudioapi.rs
+++ b/crates/ark/tests/rstudioapi.rs
@@ -11,7 +11,10 @@ fn test_get_version() {
     }
 
     let value = "1.0.0";
-    harp::envvar::set_var("POSITRON_VERSION", value);
+    // Can't directly talk to R, need an `r_task()` that can be used alongside
+    // the `frontend`. See https://github.com/posit-dev/ark/issues/609.
+    // harp::envvar::set_var("POSITRON_VERSION", value);
+    set_var("POSITRON_VERSION", value, &frontend);
 
     let code = "as.character(rstudioapi::getVersion())";
     frontend.send_execute_request(code, ExecuteRequestOptions::default());
@@ -39,7 +42,10 @@ fn test_get_mode() {
     }
 
     let value = "desktop";
-    harp::envvar::set_var("POSITRON_MODE", value);
+    // Can't directly talk to R, need an `r_task()` that can be used alongside
+    // the `frontend`. See https://github.com/posit-dev/ark/issues/609.
+    // harp::envvar::set_var("POSITRON_MODE", value);
+    set_var("POSITRON_MODE", value, &frontend);
 
     let code = "rstudioapi::getMode()";
     frontend.send_execute_request(code, ExecuteRequestOptions::default());
@@ -57,6 +63,19 @@ fn test_get_mode() {
     assert_eq!(frontend.recv_shell_execute_reply(), input.execution_count)
 }
 
+fn set_var(key: &str, value: &str, frontend: &DummyArkFrontend) {
+    let code = format!("Sys.setenv({key} = \"{value}\")");
+    frontend.send_execute_request(code.as_str(), ExecuteRequestOptions::default());
+    frontend.recv_iopub_busy();
+
+    let input = frontend.recv_iopub_execute_input();
+    assert_eq!(input.code, code);
+
+    frontend.recv_iopub_idle();
+
+    assert_eq!(frontend.recv_shell_execute_reply(), input.execution_count)
+}
+
 fn has_rstudioapi(frontend: &DummyArkFrontend) -> bool {
     let code = ".ps.is_installed('rstudioapi')";
     frontend.send_execute_request(code, ExecuteRequestOptions::default());