diff --git a/mysql-test/mysql-test-run.pl b/mysql-test/mysql-test-run.pl
index 7127bedffdc..83d5fe088f8 100755
--- a/mysql-test/mysql-test-run.pl
+++ b/mysql-test/mysql-test-run.pl
@@ -5531,11 +5531,12 @@ sub start_check_testcase ($$$) {
   }
   my $errfile= "$opt_vardir/tmp/$name.err";
 
-  My::Debugger::setup_client_args(\$args, \$exe_mysqltest);
+  my $exe= $exe_mysqltest;
+  My::Debugger::setup_client_args(\$args, \$exe);
   my $proc= My::SafeProcess->new
     (
      name          => $name,
-     path          => $exe_mysqltest,
+     path          => $exe,
      error         => $errfile,
      output        => $errfile,
      args          => \$args,