diff --git a/packages/neuron/package.py b/packages/neuron/package.py
index 16f76529746a232f6f2b82be35cd299a36033830..e3c181ab50b832ff9683bfe055379218324b9e26 100644
--- a/packages/neuron/package.py
+++ b/packages/neuron/package.py
@@ -143,3 +143,10 @@ class Neuron(CMakePackage):
         env.prepend_path("LD_LIBRARY_PATH", join_path(self.prefix, "lib"))
         if self.spec.satisfies("+python"):
             env.prepend_path("PYTHONPATH", self.spec.prefix.lib.python)
+
+    # override setup_{build/run}_environment for standalone package tests
+    def setup_dependent_build_environment(self, env, dependent_spec):
+        self.setup_run_environment(env)
+
+    def setup_dependent_run_environment(self, env, dependent_spec):
+        self.setup_run_environment(env)