diff --git a/tests/testutils.c b/tests/testutils.c
index 2b37c1965d..9d454c23bc 100644
--- a/tests/testutils.c
+++ b/tests/testutils.c
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ static size_t testCounter;
 static virBitmap *testBitmap;
 static virBitmap *failedTests;
 
-virArch virTestHostArch = VIR_ARCH_X86_64;
+static virArch virTestHostArch = VIR_ARCH_X86_64;
 
 virArch
 virArchFromHost(void)
@@ -63,6 +63,11 @@ virArchFromHost(void)
     return virTestHostArch;
 }
 
+void
+virTestSetHostArch(virArch arch)
+{
+    virTestHostArch = arch;
+}
 
 static int virTestUseTerminalColors(void)
 {
diff --git a/tests/testutils.h b/tests/testutils.h
index 13a154a5af..ff5661bb3f 100644
--- a/tests/testutils.h
+++ b/tests/testutils.h
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@
 # error Fix build system
 #endif
 
-extern virArch virTestHostArch;
+void virTestSetHostArch(virArch arch);
 
 int virTestRun(const char *title,
                int (*body)(const void *data),
diff --git a/tests/testutilsqemu.c b/tests/testutilsqemu.c
index 105b41cbeb..53fb5f656d 100644
--- a/tests/testutilsqemu.c
+++ b/tests/testutilsqemu.c
@@ -307,7 +307,7 @@ qemuTestSetHostArch(virQEMUDriver *driver,
     if (arch == VIR_ARCH_NONE)
         arch = VIR_ARCH_X86_64;
 
-    virTestHostArch = arch;
+    virTestSetHostArch(arch);
     driver->hostarch = virArchFromHost();
     driver->caps->host.arch = virArchFromHost();
     qemuTestSetHostCPU(driver, arch, NULL);