terraform test does not recognize TF_VAR_* env variables when it is set in GitHub Actions

[dreinhardt89]

Terraform Version

v1.8.1

Terraform Configuration Files

jobs:
  tf-test:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    env:
      TF_VAR_aws_provider_role_arn: "arn"
    steps:
    - name: Checkout Repo
      uses: actions/checkout@v4
    - name: Terraform - Setup
      uses: hashicorp/setup-terraform@v3
      with:
        terraform_version: 1.8.1
    - name: Terraform - Init
      id: init
      run: |
        terraform init -input=false -lock=false
    - name: Terraform Test
      id: test
      run: |
        terraform init -input=false -lock=false
        terraform validate
        terraform test
      shell: bash

tests/setup/main.tf

terraform {
  required_providers {
    aws = {
      source = "hashicorp/aws"
    }
  }
  required_version = ">= 0.14"
}
  
provider "aws" {
  assume_role {
    role_arn = var.aws_provider_role_arn
  }
}
  
variable "aws_provider_role_arn" {
  description = "IAM Role ARN for AWS provider to assume."
  type        = string
}

tftest.hcl

run "setup_tests" {
  module {
    source = "./tests/setup"
  }
}

Debug Output

tests/argo_app_multi_source.tftest.hcl... in progress
  run "setup_tests"... fail

│ Error: Required variable not set
│   64: variable "aws_provider_role_arn" {
│ 
│ The variable "aws_provider_role_arn" is required, but is not set.

Expected Behavior

The variable should have been set by setting the TF_VAR_aws_provider_role_arn env var.

Actual Behavior

The variable was not set

Steps to Reproduce

1. terraform init
2. terraform test

Additional Context

No response

References

No response

[dreinhardt89]

this seems to be fixed in 1.8.3