diff --git a/.github/workflows/test_and_deploy.yml b/.github/workflows/test_and_deploy.yml
index e0301d7..7f94ffa 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test_and_deploy.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test_and_deploy.yml
@@ -27,8 +27,9 @@ jobs:
     name: ${{ matrix.os }} py${{ matrix.python-version }}
     runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
     env:
-      # used on unix by pooch for cache dir
-      XDG_CACHE_HOME: "~/.pooch_cache"
+      # pooch cache dir
+      BRAINGLOBE_TEST_DATA_DIR: "~/.pooch_cache"
+
     strategy:
       matrix:
         # Run all supported Python versions on linux
@@ -71,8 +72,8 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     env:
       NUMBA_DISABLE_JIT: "1"
-      # used on unix by pooch for cache dir
-      XDG_CACHE_HOME: "~/.pooch_cache"
+      # pooch cache dir
+      BRAINGLOBE_TEST_DATA_DIR: "~/.pooch_cache"
 
     steps:
       - name: Cache pooch data
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index bd89129..78f54f1 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -145,4 +145,5 @@ passenv =
     DISPLAY
     XAUTHORITY
     PYVISTA_OFF_SCREEN
+    BRAINGLOBE_TEST_DATA_DIR
 """
diff --git a/tests/tests/conftest.py b/tests/tests/conftest.py
index 2ac4e08..f0a78cc 100644
--- a/tests/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/tests/conftest.py
@@ -26,5 +26,6 @@ def test_data_registry():
             "cellfinder/cells-z-1000-1050.xml": None,
             "cellfinder/other-cells-z-1000-1050.xml": None,
         },
+        env="BRAINGLOBE_TEST_DATA_DIR",
     )
     return registry