diff --git a/src/qt/test/addressbooktests.cpp b/src/qt/test/addressbooktests.cpp
--- a/src/qt/test/addressbooktests.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/test/addressbooktests.cpp
@@ -154,10 +154,10 @@
         // framework when it tries to look up unimplemented cocoa functions,
         // and fails to handle returned nulls
         // (https://bugreports.qt.io/browse/QTBUG-49686).
-        QWARN(
-            "Skipping AddressBookTests on mac build with 'minimal' platform "
-            "set due to Qt bugs. To run AppTests, invoke with 'test_bitcoin-qt "
-            "-platform cocoa' on mac, or else use a linux or windows build.");
+        QWARN("Skipping AddressBookTests on mac build with 'minimal' platform "
+              "set due to Qt bugs. To run AppTests, invoke with "
+              "'QT_QPA_PLATFORM=cocoa test_bitcoin-qt' on mac, or else use a "
+              "linux or windows build.");
         return;
     }
 #endif
diff --git a/src/qt/test/apptests.cpp b/src/qt/test/apptests.cpp
--- a/src/qt/test/apptests.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/test/apptests.cpp
@@ -66,9 +66,8 @@
         // and fails to handle returned nulls
         // (https://bugreports.qt.io/browse/QTBUG-49686).
         QWARN("Skipping AppTests on mac build with 'minimal' platform set due "
-              "to Qt bugs. To run AppTests, invoke "
-              "with 'test_bitcoin-qt -platform cocoa' on mac, or else use a "
-              "linux or windows build.");
+              "to Qt bugs. To run AppTests, invoke with 'QT_QPA_PLATFORM=cocoa "
+              "test_bitcoin-qt' on mac, or else use a linux or windows build.");
         return;
     }
 #endif
diff --git a/src/qt/test/test_main.cpp b/src/qt/test/test_main.cpp
--- a/src/qt/test/test_main.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/test/test_main.cpp
@@ -67,9 +67,11 @@
 // platform ("xcb", "windows", or "cocoa") so tests can't unintentionally
 // interfere with any background GUIs and don't require extra resources.
 #if defined(WIN32)
-    _putenv_s("QT_QPA_PLATFORM", "minimal");
+    if (getenv("QT_QPA_PLATFORM") == nullptr) {
+        _putenv_s("QT_QPA_PLATFORM", "minimal");
+    }
 #else
-    setenv("QT_QPA_PLATFORM", "minimal", 0);
+    setenv("QT_QPA_PLATFORM", "minimal", /* overwrite */ 0);
 #endif
 
     // Don't remove this, it's needed to access
diff --git a/src/qt/test/wallettests.cpp b/src/qt/test/wallettests.cpp
--- a/src/qt/test/wallettests.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/test/wallettests.cpp
@@ -102,9 +102,9 @@
 //
 // This also requires overriding the default minimal Qt platform:
 //
-//     src/qt/test/test_bitcoin-qt -platform xcb      # Linux
-//     src/qt/test/test_bitcoin-qt -platform windows  # Windows
-//     src/qt/test/test_bitcoin-qt -platform cocoa    # macOS
+//     QT_QPA_PLATFORM=xcb     src/qt/test/test_bitcoin-qt  # Linux
+//     QT_QPA_PLATFORM=windows src/qt/test/test_bitcoin-qt  # Windows
+//     QT_QPA_PLATFORM=cocoa   src/qt/test/test_bitcoin-qt  # macOS
 void TestGUI(interfaces::Node &node) {
     // Set up wallet and chain with 105 blocks (5 mature blocks for spending).
     TestChain100Setup test;
@@ -256,9 +256,10 @@
         // framework when it tries to look up unimplemented cocoa functions,
         // and fails to handle returned nulls
         // (https://bugreports.qt.io/browse/QTBUG-49686).
-        QWARN("Skipping WalletTests on mac build with 'minimal' platform set "
-              "due to Qt bugs. To run AppTests, invoke with 'test_bitcoin-qt "
-              "-platform cocoa' on mac, or else use a linux or windows build.");
+        QWARN(
+            "Skipping WalletTests on mac build with 'minimal' platform set due "
+            "to Qt bugs. To run AppTests, invoke with 'QT_QPA_PLATFORM=cocoa "
+            "test_bitcoin-qt' on mac, or else use a linux or windows build.");
         return;
     }
 #endif