diff --git a/ci_scripts/remote_tests_python.sh b/ci_scripts/remote_tests_python.sh
index 6dc142b3d..49ae24197 100755
--- a/ci_scripts/remote_tests_python.sh
+++ b/ci_scripts/remote_tests_python.sh
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 export BRANCH=${CIRCLE_BRANCH:?branch to build}
 export REPONAME=${CIRCLE_PROJECT_REPONAME:?repository name}
-export SSHTARGET=ci@b1.delta.chat
+export SSHTARGET=${SSHTARGET-ci@b1.delta.chat}
 
 # we construct the BUILDDIR such that we can easily share the
 # CARGO_TARGET_DIR between runs ("..")
diff --git a/ci_scripts/remote_tests_rust.sh b/ci_scripts/remote_tests_rust.sh
index 74a8d0658..1f396dd48 100755
--- a/ci_scripts/remote_tests_rust.sh
+++ b/ci_scripts/remote_tests_rust.sh
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 export BRANCH=${CIRCLE_BRANCH:?branch to build}
 export REPONAME=${CIRCLE_PROJECT_REPONAME:?repository name}
-export SSHTARGET=ci@b1.delta.chat
+export SSHTARGET=${SSHTARGET-ci@b1.delta.chat}
 
 # we construct the BUILDDIR such that we can easily share the
 # CARGO_TARGET_DIR between runs ("..")