diff --git a/doc/testing.txt b/doc/testing.txt
index b3138bb5..f836c494 100644
--- a/doc/testing.txt
+++ b/doc/testing.txt
@@ -129,6 +129,7 @@ test-run fails.
 set -e  # Exit if simple command fails
 set -u  # Error if variable is undefined
 
+CRON=running
 LOG=/tmp/bash-completion.log~
 
     # Retrieve latest sources
diff --git a/test/config/bashrc b/test/config/bashrc
index b3037d0a..cc21db7d 100644
--- a/test/config/bashrc
+++ b/test/config/bashrc
@@ -14,9 +14,9 @@ export PS1='$(wd=$(pwd); echo ${wd#$TESTDIR}/)@'
 export PS2='> '
 	# Configure readline
 export INPUTRC=$TESTDIR/config/inputrc
-	# Avoid escape junk at beginning of line from readline, see e.g.
-	# http://bugs.gentoo.org/246091
-export TERM=linux
+    # When not running via cron, avoid escape junk at beginning of line from
+    # readline, see e.g.  http://bugs.gentoo.org/246091
+[ "$CRON" ] || export TERM=dummy
 	# Ensure enough columns so expect doesn't have to care about line breaks
 stty columns 150