diff --git a/bin/tests/system/conf.sh.in b/bin/tests/system/conf.sh.in
index d6c76ea6f1..a6999e39b2 100644
--- a/bin/tests/system/conf.sh.in
+++ b/bin/tests/system/conf.sh.in
@@ -66,13 +66,29 @@ export KRB5_CONFIG=/dev/null
 # use local keytab instead of default /etc/krb5.keytab
 export KRB5_KTNAME=dns.keytab
 
+#
+# Programs detected by configure
+# Variables will be empty if no program was found by configure
+#
+export SHELL=@SHELL@
+export CURL=@CURL@
+export NC=@NC@
+export XMLLINT=@XMLLINT@
+export XSLTPROC=@XSLTPROC@
+export PYTEST=@PYTEST@
+
+#
+# Interpreters for system tests detected by configure
+#
+export PERL=$(command -v "@PERL@")
+export PYTHON=$(command -v "@PYTHON@" || true)
+
 # Load common values
 . $TOP_SRCDIR/bin/tests/system/conf.sh.common
 
 #
 # Construct the lists of tests to run
 #
-
 PARALLEL_UNIX="chain
 checkds
 cookie
@@ -92,24 +108,3 @@ qmin
 shutdown
 tcp"
 SUBDIRS="$PARALLEL_COMMON $PARALLEL_UNIX"
-
-# Use the CONFIG_SHELL detected by configure for tests
-export SHELL=@SHELL@
-
-# CURL will be empty if no program was found by configure
-export CURL=@CURL@
-
-# NC will be empty if no program was found by configure
-export NC=@NC@
-
-# XMLLINT will be empty if no program was found by configure
-export XMLLINT=@XMLLINT@
-
-# XSLTPROC will be empty if no program was found by configure
-export XSLTPROC=@XSLTPROC@
-
-# PERL will be an empty string if no perl interpreter was found.
-export PERL=$(command -v "@PERL@")
-
-export PYTHON=$(command -v "@PYTHON@" || true)
-export PYTEST=@PYTEST@