diff --git a/debian/rules b/debian/rules
index b8dfb5e93540e9baf4551413e37895c2c2a99dde..9d888061e10c2b12462574eb71f7bf6212eca69a 100755
--- a/debian/rules
+++ b/debian/rules
@@ -7,7 +7,8 @@
 # This has to be exported to make some magic below work.
 export DH_OPTIONS
 # disable network tests in Debian package build
-export PYTEST_USENETWORK=no
+PYTEST_USENETWORK?=no
+export PYTEST_USENETWORK
 
 %:
 	dh $@  --with=python2,sphinxdoc --buildsystem=pybuild