diff --git a/tests/test_helper.tcl b/tests/test_helper.tcl
index 9b1ba6347c1a11babf7409e6def8ccf9369a3532..353c99a473996fcf108e776039a57d5d1e27bd57 100644
--- a/tests/test_helper.tcl
+++ b/tests/test_helper.tcl
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ proc execute_everything {} {
     execute_tests "unit/slowlog"
 
     # run tests with VM enabled
-    set ::global_overrides {vm-enabled yes}
+    set ::global_overrides {vm-enabled yes really-use-vm yes}
     execute_tests "unit/protocol"
     execute_tests "unit/basic"
     execute_tests "unit/type/list"