diff --git a/tox.ini b/tox.ini
index 0bff7883189..fe08a8cd78c 100644
--- a/tox.ini
+++ b/tox.ini
@@ -13,7 +13,9 @@ commands =
 
     unit: bash run_tests.sh -u
 whitelist_externals = bash
-passenv = CI CONDA_EXE
+passenv = 
+    CI CONDA_EXE
+    GALAXY_CONFIG_OVERRIDE_DATABASE_CONNECTION
 setenv =
     first_startup: GALAXY_PYTHON=python
     first_startup: GALAXY_CONFIG_DATABASE_AUTO_MIGRATE=true