diff --git a/rhodecode/config/environment.py b/rhodecode/config/environment.py
--- a/rhodecode/config/environment.py
+++ b/rhodecode/config/environment.py
@@ -78,7 +78,10 @@ def load_environment(global_conf, app_co
 
         from rhodecode.lib.utils import create_test_env, create_test_index
         from rhodecode.tests import  TESTS_TMP_PATH
-        create_test_env(TESTS_TMP_PATH, config)
+        # set RC_NO_TMP_PATH=1 to disable re-creating the database and
+        # test repos
+        if not int(os.environ.get('RC_NO_TMP_PATH', 0)):
+            create_test_env(TESTS_TMP_PATH, config)
         # set RC_WHOOSH_TEST_DISABLE=1 to disable whoosh index during tests
         if not int(os.environ.get('RC_WHOOSH_TEST_DISABLE', 0)):
             create_test_index(TESTS_TMP_PATH, config, True)