diff --git a/ci/test.lua b/ci/test.lua
index 91f39310b..35e93fd12 100644
--- a/ci/test.lua
+++ b/ci/test.lua
@@ -82,6 +82,27 @@ local function clean_require(module)
     return require(module)
 end
 
+-- forces clean load of scripts directly or indirectly included from the test
+-- file. we use our own scripts table instead of the one in dfhack.internal so
+-- we don't affect the state scripts that are used outside the test harness.
+local test_scripts = {}
+local test_envvars = {}
+local function clean_reqscript(name)
+    local path = dfhack.findScript(name)
+    if test_scripts[path] then return test_scripts[path].env end
+    local _, env = dfhack.run_script_with_env(
+        test_envvars,
+        name,
+        {
+            scripts=test_scripts,
+            module=true,
+            module_strict=true
+        })
+    return env
+end
+test_envvars.require = clean_require
+test_envvars.reqscript = clean_reqscript
+
 local function ensure_title_screen()
     if df.viewscreen_titlest:is_instance(dfhack.gui.getCurViewscreen()) then
         return
@@ -129,6 +150,7 @@ local function build_test_env()
         expect = {},
         delay = delay,
         require = clean_require,
+        reqscript = clean_reqscript,
     }
     local private = {
         checks = 0,
diff --git a/library/lua/dfhack.lua b/library/lua/dfhack.lua
index 26a23db55..d1e664af7 100644
--- a/library/lua/dfhack.lua
+++ b/library/lua/dfhack.lua
@@ -562,7 +562,6 @@ function Script:get_flags()
 end
 
 internal.scripts = internal.scripts or {}
-local scripts = internal.scripts
 
 local hack_path = dfhack.getHackPath()
 
@@ -583,6 +582,7 @@ local valid_script_flags = {
     module_strict = {required = false},
     alias = {required = false},
     alias_count = {required = false},
+    scripts = {required = false},
 }
 
 function dfhack.run_script(name,...)
@@ -603,6 +603,7 @@ end
 reqscript = dfhack.reqscript
 
 function dfhack.script_environment(name, strict)
+    local scripts = internal.scripts
     local path = dfhack.findScript(name)
     if not scripts[path] or scripts[path]:needs_update() then
         local _, env = dfhack.run_script_with_env(nil, name, {
@@ -625,6 +626,7 @@ function dfhack.run_script_with_env(envVars, name, flags, ...)
         error('Could not find script ' .. name)
     end
 
+    local scripts = flags.scripts or internal.scripts
     if scripts[file] == nil then
         scripts[file] = Script(file)
     end