diff --git a/tavern/testutils/pytesthook.py b/tavern/testutils/pytesthook.py
index e9edca05..27ea26d8 100644
--- a/tavern/testutils/pytesthook.py
+++ b/tavern/testutils/pytesthook.py
@@ -3,14 +3,16 @@
 import logging
 import itertools
 import copy
-import py
+import os
 
+import py
 import attr
 from _pytest._code.code import FormattedExcinfo
 from _pytest import fixtures
 import pytest
 import yaml
 from future.utils import raise_from
+from box import Box
 
 from tavern.plugins import load_plugins
 from tavern.core import run_test
@@ -347,6 +349,19 @@ def _parse_arguments(self):
         all_paths = ini_global_cfg_paths + cmdline_global_cfg_paths
         global_cfg = load_global_config(all_paths)
 
+        try:
+            loaded_variables = global_cfg["variables"]
+        except KeyError:
+            logger.debug("Nothing to format in global config files")
+        else:
+            tavern_box = Box({
+                "tavern": {
+                    "env_vars": dict(os.environ),
+                }
+            })
+
+            global_cfg["variables"] = format_keys(loaded_variables, tavern_box)
+
         if self.config.getini("tavern-strict") is not None:
             strict = self.config.getini("tavern-strict")
             if isinstance(strict, list):
diff --git a/tests/integration/test_stream.tavern.yaml b/tests/integration/test_stream.tavern.yaml
index ef76f648..0c138f9d 100644
--- a/tests/integration/test_stream.tavern.yaml
+++ b/tests/integration/test_stream.tavern.yaml
@@ -13,4 +13,3 @@ stages:
       stream: True
     response:
       status_code: 200
-