diff --git a/curriculum/test/test-challenges.js b/curriculum/test/test-challenges.js
index 92f562afa0..648329aaa0 100644
--- a/curriculum/test/test-challenges.js
+++ b/curriculum/test/test-challenges.js
@@ -27,8 +27,6 @@ const { challengeTypes } = require('../../client/utils/challengeTypes');
 
 const { supportedLangs } = require('../utils');
 
-const { LOCALE: lang = 'english' } = process.env;
-
 const oldRunnerFail = Mocha.Runner.prototype.fail;
 Mocha.Runner.prototype.fail = function(test, err) {
   if (err instanceof AssertionError) {
@@ -60,7 +58,15 @@ const jQueryScript = fs.readFileSync(
 runTests();
 
 async function runTests() {
-  await Promise.all(supportedLangs.map(lang => populateTestsForLang(lang)));
+  let testLangs = [...supportedLangs];
+  if (process.env.TEST_CHALLENGES_FOR_LANGS) {
+    const filterLangs = process.env.TEST_CHALLENGES_FOR_LANGS.split(',').map(
+      lang => lang.trim().toLowerCase()
+    );
+    testLangs = testLangs.filter(lang => filterLangs.includes(lang));
+  }
+
+  await Promise.all(testLangs.map(lang => populateTestsForLang(lang)));
 
   run();
 }
diff --git a/sample.env b/sample.env
index e556cb0891..5e847f5188 100644
--- a/sample.env
+++ b/sample.env
@@ -28,3 +28,5 @@ API_LOCATION='http://localhost:3000'
 FORUM_LOCATION='https://forum.localhost'
 FORUM_PROXY_LOCATION='https://proxy.localhost'
 LOCALE=english
+
+TEST_CHALLENGES_FOR_LANGS=english