diff --git a/test/rubygems/helper.rb b/test/rubygems/helper.rb
index b55e526d771f84..52dd6e0725ba30 100644
--- a/test/rubygems/helper.rb
+++ b/test/rubygems/helper.rb
@@ -372,7 +372,7 @@ def setup
 
     ENV["GEM_PRIVATE_KEY_PASSPHRASE"] = PRIVATE_KEY_PASSPHRASE
 
-    Gem.instance_variable_set(:@default_specifications_dir, nil)
+    Gem.instance_variable_set(:@default_specifications_dir, File.join(@gemhome, "specifications", "default"))
     if Gem.java_platform?
       @orig_default_gem_home = RbConfig::CONFIG["default_gem_home"]
       RbConfig::CONFIG["default_gem_home"] = @gemhome