diff --git a/tests/meson.build b/tests/meson.build
index c0f461f7c..088a0ce5d 100644
--- a/tests/meson.build
+++ b/tests/meson.build
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ perf_testenv.set('G_DEBUG', 'fatal-warnings')
 perf_testenv.set('G_MESSAGES_DEBUG', 'GNOME Shell')
 perf_testenv.set('GNOME_SHELL_DATADIR', data_builddir)
 perf_testenv.set('GNOME_SHELL_BUILDDIR', src_builddir)
+perf_testenv.set('GNOME_SHELL_SESSION_MODE', 'user')
 perf_testenv.set('SHELL_BACKGROUND_IMAGE', '@0@'.format(background_file))
 perf_testenv.append('GI_TYPELIB_PATH', gvc_typelib_path, separator: ':')
 perf_testenv.append('LD_LIBRARY_PATH', libgvc_path, separator: ':')