diff --git a/lib/phpunit/classes/util.php b/lib/phpunit/classes/util.php
index 8c2727d83ec..1a6d24f95e0 100644
--- a/lib/phpunit/classes/util.php
+++ b/lib/phpunit/classes/util.php
@@ -408,6 +408,9 @@ class phpunit_util extends testing_util {
 
         install_cli_database($options, false);
 
+        // Set the admin email address.
+        $DB->set_field('user', 'email', 'admin@example.com', array('username' => 'admin'));
+
         // Disable all logging for performance and sanity reasons.
         set_config('enabled_stores', '', 'tool_log');