diff --git a/tests/bats/functional_core_commands.bats b/tests/bats/functional_core_commands.bats
index 6be3e171..17f513c4 100755
--- a/tests/bats/functional_core_commands.bats
+++ b/tests/bats/functional_core_commands.bats
@@ -4,10 +4,14 @@ setup() {
     load 'test_helper/bats-support/load'
     load 'test_helper/bats-assert/load'
 
-    if [ -z "$PHP_BIN" ]; then
-      export PHP_BIN="$(which php)"
+    declare PHP_BIN
+    PHP_BIN=$(which php)
+    if [ $? -ne 0 ]; then
+      echo "Error: PHP binary not found"
+      exit 1
     fi
 
+
     if [ -z "$N98_MAGERUN2_BIN" ]; then
       echo "ENV variable N98_MAGERUN2_BIN is missing"
       exit 1
diff --git a/tests/bats/functional_magerun_commands.bats b/tests/bats/functional_magerun_commands.bats
index 38e3ebdf..83088a7b 100755
--- a/tests/bats/functional_magerun_commands.bats
+++ b/tests/bats/functional_magerun_commands.bats
@@ -11,10 +11,6 @@ setup() {
       exit 1
     fi
 
-    if [ -z "$PHP_BIN" ]; then
-      export PHP_BIN="$(which php)"
-    fi
-
     if [ -z "$N98_MAGERUN2_BIN" ]; then
       echo "ENV variable N98_MAGERUN2_BIN is missing"
       exit 1