diff --git a/scripts/test-e2e-local-clean.js b/scripts/test-e2e-local-clean.js
index 4f2d45cb278b1f..59f6333d793ffa 100644
--- a/scripts/test-e2e-local-clean.js
+++ b/scripts/test-e2e-local-clean.js
@@ -48,8 +48,6 @@ exec('rm -rf /tmp/maven-local');
 // iOS
 console.info('\n** Nuking the derived data folder **\n');
 exec('rm -rf ~/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData');
-console.info('\n** Resetting HERMES_ENGINE_TARBALL_PATH env variable **\n');
-exec('unset HERMES_ENGINE_TARBALL_PATH');
 
 // RNTester Pods
 console.info('\n** Removing the RNTester Pods **\n');
diff --git a/scripts/test-e2e-local.js b/scripts/test-e2e-local.js
index 4201e86a6d17eb..90efd74e3d7e17 100644
--- a/scripts/test-e2e-local.js
+++ b/scripts/test-e2e-local.js
@@ -213,21 +213,22 @@ if (argv.target === 'RNTester') {
   cd('RNTestProject');
   exec('yarn install');
 
-  // need to do this here so that Android will be properly setup every time
+  // need to do this here so that Android will be properly setup either way
   exec(
     'echo "REACT_NATIVE_MAVEN_LOCAL_REPO=/private/tmp/maven-local" >> android/gradle.properties',
   );
 
-  // doing the same iOS side - I set it here so that the pod install will work every time
-  exec(`export HERMES_ENGINE_TARBALL_PATH=${tarballOutputPath}`);
-
   if (argv.platform === 'iOS') {
     // if we want iOS, we need to do pod install - but with a trick
     cd('ios');
     exec('bundle install');
 
-    // set HERMES_ENGINE_TARBALL_PATH is set as ENV variable
-    exec(`USE_HERMES=${argv.hermes ? 1 : 0} bundle exec pod install --ansi`);
+    // set HERMES_ENGINE_TARBALL_PATH to point to the local artifacts I just created
+    exec(
+      `HERMES_ENGINE_TARBALL_PATH=${tarballOutputPath} USE_HERMES=${
+        argv.hermes ? 1 : 0
+      } bundle exec pod install --ansi`,
+    );
 
     cd('..');
     exec('yarn ios');