diff --git a/test/quickfort/ecosystem.lua b/test/quickfort/ecosystem.lua
index 56f6471fb..fea7d0c09 100644
--- a/test/quickfort/ecosystem.lua
+++ b/test/quickfort/ecosystem.lua
@@ -158,6 +158,7 @@ local function get_test_area(area, spec)
             area.width, area.height, area.depth =
                     spec.width, spec.height, spec.depth
             area.pos = {x=1, y=1, z=z_start}
+            area.endpos = {x=area.width, y=area.height, z=z_start-area.depth+1}
             return true
         end
         ::continue::
@@ -223,6 +224,10 @@ local function reset_area(area, spec)
     dfhack.run_command('tiletypes-here', '--quiet', get_cursor_arg(pos))
 end
 
+local function format_pos(pos)
+    return ('%s,%s,%s'):format(pos.x, pos.y, pos.z)
+end
+
 function test.end_to_end()
     -- read in test plan
     local sets = get_blueprint_sets()
@@ -249,7 +254,8 @@ function test.end_to_end()
         end
 
         -- run dig-now to dig out designated tiles
-        dfhack.run_command('dig-now', '--clean')
+        dfhack.run_command('dig-now', format_pos(area.pos),
+                           format_pos(area.endpos), '--clean')
 
         -- quickfort run remaining blueprints
         for _,mode_name in pairs(mode_names) do