diff --git a/test b/test
index ca7643f..1aaf3c1 100755
--- a/test
+++ b/test
@@ -48,6 +48,8 @@ mdsize12=19988
 # ddf needs bigger devices as 32Meg is reserved!
 ddfsize=65536
 
+config=/tmp/mdadm.conf
+
 cleanup() {
 	udevadm settle
 	$mdadm -Ssq 2> /dev/null
diff --git a/tests/11spare-migration b/tests/11spare-migration
index 3567883..58f1df9 100644
--- a/tests/11spare-migration
+++ b/tests/11spare-migration
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ listfailed="yes"
 monitor(){
        [ -z $monitorpid ] || return
        if [ "$scan" == "yes" ]; then
-               $mdadm -F -d 1 --scan --mail root@localhost &
+               $mdadm -F -d 1 --scan --mail root@localhost -c $config &
                monitorpid=$!
                return
        fi
@@ -44,10 +44,10 @@ monitor(){
        done
        if [ -n "$mddevs" ]; then
                if [ "$verbose" != "yes" ]; then
-                       $mdadm -F -d 1 $mddevs >&2 &
+                       $mdadm -F -d 1 $mddevs -c $config >&2 &
                        monitorpid=$!
                else
-                       $mdadm -F -t -d 1 $mddevs &
+                       $mdadm -F -t -d 1 $mddevs -c $config &
                        monitorpid=$!
                fi
        fi
diff --git a/tests/utils b/tests/utils
index ef8be4f..3acebd7 100644
--- a/tests/utils
+++ b/tests/utils
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ devices="/dev/loop[0-9] /dev/loop10 /dev/loop11 /dev/loop12"
 # uses testdsc and platform global variables
 err(){
        echo >&2 "ERROR: $*"
-       cat /tmp/mdadm.conf >&2 || true
+       cat $config >&2 || true
        cat /proc/mdstat >&2
        [ -z "$testdsc" ] || { echo >&2 $platform: $testdsc "- failed"; }
        ps -e | grep mdadm >&2 || true
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ tidyup(){
        mdadm -Ss
        mdadm --zero-superblock $devices || true
        udevadm settle
-       rm -f /tmp/mdadm.conf
+       rm -f $config
 }
 
 trap tidyup 0 1 2 3 15
@@ -167,7 +167,6 @@ chksparemoved(){
 
 # for domains defined through policy
 createconfig(){
-conf=/tmp/mdadm.conf
 if [ "$1" != "a" ]; then
 {
        domain=$1
@@ -181,12 +180,12 @@ if [ "$1" != "a" ]; then
                echo "$echo"
                shift
        done
-} >> $conf
+} >> $config
 else
 {
        echo "DEVICES $devlist /dev/md1*"
        mdadm -Ebs
-} >  $conf
+} >  $config
 fi
-#[ "$verbose" != "yes" ] || cat /tmp/mdadm.conf | grep policy || true
+#[ "$verbose" != "yes" ] || cat $config | grep policy || true
 }