diff --git a/testsuite/README.md b/testsuite/README.md
index 5a212dbe0..28b3a50fb 100644
--- a/testsuite/README.md
+++ b/testsuite/README.md
@@ -36,8 +36,28 @@ $ ./run.py
 ```
 
 # Creating tests
-All tests are based on running a Python script. There are three test drivers:
+All tests are based on running a Python script. There are these test drivers:
 
 - `python-script`: run in host in both sandboxed and shared build mode.
     - The build mode can be narrowed down with the `build_mode` attribute.
 - `docker-wrapper`: run in a pristine docker Ubuntu image in shared build mode.
+
+# Environment variables
+The following variables can be used to modify test/testsuite behavior.
+
+For `ALIRE_DISABLE_*` variables, their mere existence activates their function,
+no matter their value, or lack of one.
+
+- `ALIRE_DISABLE_DISTRO`: when defined, `alr` will be configured
+ to not detect the system distribution and fall back to unknown distribution.
+
+- `ALIRE_DISABLE_DOCKER`: when defined, `alr` will skip tests that
+  require Docker (which are enabled by default if Docker is detected).
+
+- `ALIRE_DISABLE_NETWORK_TESTS`: when defined, tests that
+  require non-local network use will be skipped.
+
+Example disabling Docker tests for a single run on Bash:
+```Bash
+$ ALIRE_DISABLE_DOCKER= ./run.sh
+```
diff --git a/testsuite/drivers/alr.py b/testsuite/drivers/alr.py
index 856a328b2..5d16f0dc4 100644
--- a/testsuite/drivers/alr.py
+++ b/testsuite/drivers/alr.py
@@ -72,9 +72,8 @@ def prepare_env(config_dir, env):
 
     # If distro detection is disabled via environment, configure so in alr
     if "ALIRE_DISABLE_DISTRO" in env:
-        if env["ALIRE_DISABLE_DISTRO"] == "true":
-            run_alr("-c", config_dir, "config", "--global",
-                    "--set", "distribution.disable_detection", "true")
+        run_alr("-c", config_dir, "config", "--global",
+                "--set", "distribution.disable_detection", "true")
 
 
 def run_alr(*args, **kwargs):
diff --git a/testsuite/drivers/driver/docker_nested.py b/testsuite/drivers/driver/docker_nested.py
index 885850ee1..647ab6507 100644
--- a/testsuite/drivers/driver/docker_nested.py
+++ b/testsuite/drivers/driver/docker_nested.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 
 from drivers import alr
 from drivers.alr import run_alr
+from drivers.helpers import MODIFIERS
 
 
 def main():
@@ -34,6 +35,10 @@ def main():
 
     # Set up the environment
 
+    # Copy any received modifiers
+    for modifier in [m for m in MODIFIERS if m in test_env]:
+        os.environ[modifier] = test_env[modifier]
+
     # alr path
     os.environ["ALR_PATH"] = "/usr/bin/alr" # Must match docker volume mount
 
diff --git a/testsuite/drivers/driver/docker_wrapper.py b/testsuite/drivers/driver/docker_wrapper.py
index 7b73ebb10..5d974a728 100644
--- a/testsuite/drivers/driver/docker_wrapper.py
+++ b/testsuite/drivers/driver/docker_wrapper.py
@@ -5,14 +5,14 @@
 from importlib import import_module
 from typing import Tuple
 
-from drivers.helpers import FileLock, on_linux
+from drivers.helpers import FileLock, on_linux, MODIFIERS
 from e3.testsuite.driver.classic import (ClassicTestDriver,
                                          TestAbortWithFailure,
                                          TestSkip)
 
 DOCKERFILE = "Dockerfile"
 TAG = "alire_testsuite"
-ENV_FLAG = "ALIRE_DOCKER_ENABLED" # Set to "False" to disable docker tests
+ENV_FLAG = "ALIRE_DISABLE_DOCKER" # Export it to disable docker tests
 LABEL_HASH = "hash"
 
 
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ def is_docker_available() -> bool:
         return False
 
     # Detect explicitly disabled
-    if os.environ.get(ENV_FLAG, "True").lower() in ["0", "false"]:
+    if ENV_FLAG in os.environ:
         return False
 
     # Detect python library
@@ -102,6 +102,11 @@ def run(self):
 
         build_image()
 
+        # Augment the test environment with local modifiers that could
+        # impact the wrapped test, if defined
+        for modifier in [m for m in MODIFIERS if m in os.environ]:
+            self.test_env[modifier] = os.environ[modifier]
+
         # Run our things
         try:
             container = get_client().containers.run(
@@ -137,6 +142,10 @@ def run(self):
 
             # Check that the test succeeded inside the docker container
             out_lines = output.splitlines()
-            if not out_lines or out_lines[-1] != 'SUCCESS':
-                self.result.log += f'missing SUCCESS output line:\n{output}'
+            if out_lines and out_lines[-1] == 'SUCCESS':
+                pass
+            elif out_lines and (reason := out_lines[-1]).startswith('SKIP:'):
+                raise TestSkip(reason.split(":")[-1].strip())
+            else:
+                self.result.log += 'missing SUCCESS output line'
                 raise TestAbortWithFailure('missing SUCCESS output line')
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/testsuite/drivers/helpers.py b/testsuite/drivers/helpers.py
index 6b3c04bb6..9d0b2e64b 100644
--- a/testsuite/drivers/helpers.py
+++ b/testsuite/drivers/helpers.py
@@ -11,6 +11,12 @@
 from subprocess import run
 from zipfile import ZipFile
 
+# Environment variables that can be used to modify the testsuite behavior
+MODIFIERS : list = [
+      'ALIRE_DISABLE_DISTRO'
+    , 'ALIRE_DISABLE_DOCKER'
+    , 'ALIRE_DISABLE_NETWORK_TESTS'
+]
 
 # Return the entries (sorted) under a given folder, both folders and files
 # Optionally, return only those matching regex. Uses '/' always as separator.
@@ -77,7 +83,7 @@ def on_windows():
 
 def distribution():
 
-    if os.environ.get('ALIRE_DISABLE_DISTRO') == 'true':
+    if 'ALIRE_DISABLE_DISTRO' in os.environ:
         return 'DISTRO_UNKNOWN'
 
     known_distro = ["debian", "ubuntu", "msys2", "arch", "rhel", "centos", "fedora"]