diff --git a/kitty_tests/main.py b/kitty_tests/main.py
index 022ea4d2f..5f393c425 100644
--- a/kitty_tests/main.py
+++ b/kitty_tests/main.py
@@ -251,6 +251,7 @@ def env_for_python_tests(report_env: bool = False) -> Iterator[None]:
         HOME=tdir,
         USERPROFILE=tdir,
         PATH=path,
+        TERM='xterm-kitty',
         XDG_CONFIG_HOME=os.path.join(tdir, '.config'),
         XDG_CONFIG_DIRS=os.path.join(tdir, '.config'),
         XDG_DATA_DIRS=os.path.join(tdir, '.local', 'xdg'),