diff --git a/shared/2configs/default.nix b/shared/2configs/default.nix
index 492689427..1c875d24c 100644
--- a/shared/2configs/default.nix
+++ b/shared/2configs/default.nix
@@ -13,7 +13,10 @@ with config.krebs.lib;
       url = https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs;
       ref = "63b9785"; # stable @ 2016-06-01
     };
-    secrets.file = "${getEnv "HOME"}/secrets/krebs/${host.name}";
+    secrets.file =
+      if getEnv "dummy_secrets" == "true"
+        then toString <stockholm/shared/6tests/data/secrets>
+        else "${getEnv "HOME"}/secrets/krebs/${host.name}";
     stockholm.file = getEnv "PWD";
   };
 
diff --git a/shared/2configs/shared-buildbot.nix b/shared/2configs/shared-buildbot.nix
index f1bd701f6..85e3cdf16 100644
--- a/shared/2configs/shared-buildbot.nix
+++ b/shared/2configs/shared-buildbot.nix
@@ -71,7 +71,11 @@
   # prepare grab_repo step for stockholm
   grab_repo = steps.Git(repourl=stockholm_repo, mode='incremental')
 
-  env = {"LOGNAME": "shared", "NIX_REMOTE": "daemon"}
+  env = {
+    "LOGNAME": "shared",
+    "NIX_REMOTE": "daemon",
+    "dummy_secrets": "true",
+  }
 
   # prepare nix-shell
   # the dependencies which are used by the test script
diff --git a/shared/6tests/data/secrets/retiolum.rsa_key.priv b/shared/6tests/data/secrets/retiolum.rsa_key.priv
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e69de29bb