diff --git a/crates/nu-command/tests/commands/do_.rs b/crates/nu-command/tests/commands/do_.rs
index e7ffd3ae3d..6a71a0f025 100644
--- a/crates/nu-command/tests/commands/do_.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-command/tests/commands/do_.rs
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ fn ignore_shell_errors_works_for_external_with_semicolon() {
 
 #[test]
 fn ignore_program_errors_works_for_external_with_semicolon() {
-    let actual = nu!(r#"do -p { nu -c 'exit 1' }; "text""#);
+    let actual = nu!(r#"do -p { nu -n -c 'exit 1' }; "text""#);
 
     assert_eq!(actual.err, "");
     assert_eq!(actual.out, "text");
diff --git a/crates/nu-command/tests/commands/exec.rs b/crates/nu-command/tests/commands/exec.rs
index deb2686593..9972df6a50 100644
--- a/crates/nu-command/tests/commands/exec.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-command/tests/commands/exec.rs
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ fn basic_exec() {
         let actual = nu!(
             cwd: dirs.test(), pipeline(
             r#"
-                nu -c 'exec nu --testbin cococo a b c'
+                nu -n -c 'exec nu --testbin cococo a b c'
             "#
         ));
 
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ fn exec_complex_args() {
         let actual = nu!(
             cwd: dirs.test(), pipeline(
             r#"
-                nu -c 'exec nu --testbin cococo b --bar=2 -sab --arwr - -DTEEE=aasd-290 -90 --'
+                nu -n -c 'exec nu --testbin cococo b --bar=2 -sab --arwr - -DTEEE=aasd-290 -90 --'
             "#
         ));
 
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ fn exec_fail_batched_short_args() {
         let actual = nu!(
             cwd: dirs.test(), pipeline(
             r#"
-                nu -c 'exec nu --testbin cococo -ab 10'
+                nu -n -c 'exec nu --testbin cococo -ab 10'
             "#
         ));
 
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ fn exec_misc_values() {
         let actual = nu!(
             cwd: dirs.test(), pipeline(
             r#"
-                nu -c 'let x = "abc"; exec nu --testbin cococo $x ...[ a b c ]'
+                nu -n -c 'let x = "abc"; exec nu --testbin cococo $x ...[ a b c ]'
             "#
         ));
 
diff --git a/crates/nu-command/tests/commands/interleave.rs b/crates/nu-command/tests/commands/interleave.rs
index 398be6b283..e7cf8cfe4c 100644
--- a/crates/nu-command/tests/commands/interleave.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-command/tests/commands/interleave.rs
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@ use nu_test_support::nu;
 #[test]
 fn interleave_external_commands() {
     let result = nu!("interleave \
-        { nu -c 'print hello; print world' | lines | each { 'greeter: ' ++ $in } } \
-        { nu -c 'print nushell; print rocks' | lines | each { 'evangelist: ' ++ $in } } | \
+        { nu -n -c 'print hello; print world' | lines | each { 'greeter: ' ++ $in } } \
+        { nu -n -c 'print nushell; print rocks' | lines | each { 'evangelist: ' ++ $in } } | \
         each { print }; null");
     assert!(result.out.contains("greeter: hello"), "{}", result.out);
     assert!(result.out.contains("greeter: world"), "{}", result.out);
diff --git a/crates/nu-command/tests/commands/return_.rs b/crates/nu-command/tests/commands/return_.rs
index f8fefeb8b6..708103d184 100644
--- a/crates/nu-command/tests/commands/return_.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-command/tests/commands/return_.rs
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ fn early_return_if_false() {
 fn return_works_in_script_without_def_main() {
     let actual = nu!(
         cwd: "tests/fixtures/formats", pipeline(
-        "nu early_return.nu"
+        "nu -n early_return.nu"
     ));
 
     assert!(actual.err.is_empty());
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ fn return_works_in_script_without_def_main() {
 fn return_works_in_script_with_def_main() {
     let actual = nu!(
         cwd: "tests/fixtures/formats",
-        pipeline("nu early_return_outside_main.nu")
+        pipeline("nu -n early_return_outside_main.nu")
     );
     assert!(actual.err.is_empty());
 }
diff --git a/crates/nu-command/tests/commands/save.rs b/crates/nu-command/tests/commands/save.rs
index db30faecd9..9febfdc2e7 100644
--- a/crates/nu-command/tests/commands/save.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-command/tests/commands/save.rs
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ fn save_stderr_and_stdout_to_afame_file() {
             r#"
             $env.FOO = "bar";
             $env.BAZ = "ZZZ";
-            do -c {nu -c 'nu --testbin echo_env FOO; nu --testbin echo_env_stderr BAZ'} | save -r save_test_5/new-file.txt --stderr save_test_5/new-file.txt
+            do -c {nu -n -c 'nu --testbin echo_env FOO; nu --testbin echo_env_stderr BAZ'} | save -r save_test_5/new-file.txt --stderr save_test_5/new-file.txt
             "#,
         );
         assert!(actual
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ fn save_stderr_and_stdout_to_diff_file() {
             r#"
             $env.FOO = "bar";
             $env.BAZ = "ZZZ";
-            do -c {nu -c 'nu --testbin echo_env FOO; nu --testbin echo_env_stderr BAZ'} | save -r save_test_6/log.txt --stderr save_test_6/err.txt
+            do -c {nu -n -c 'nu --testbin echo_env FOO; nu --testbin echo_env_stderr BAZ'} | save -r save_test_6/log.txt --stderr save_test_6/err.txt
             "#,
         );
 
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ fn save_append_works_on_stderr() {
             r#"
             $env.FOO = " New";
             $env.BAZ = " New Err";
-            do -i {nu -c 'nu --testbin echo_env FOO; nu --testbin echo_env_stderr BAZ'} | save -a -r save_test_11/log.txt --stderr save_test_11/err.txt"#,
+            do -i {nu -n -c 'nu --testbin echo_env FOO; nu --testbin echo_env_stderr BAZ'} | save -a -r save_test_11/log.txt --stderr save_test_11/err.txt"#,
         );
 
         let actual = file_contents(expected_file);
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ fn save_not_overrides_err_by_default() {
             r#"
             $env.FOO = " New";
             $env.BAZ = " New Err";
-            do -i {nu -c 'nu --testbin echo_env FOO; nu --testbin echo_env_stderr BAZ'} | save -r save_test_12/log.txt --stderr save_test_12/err.txt"#,
+            do -i {nu -n -c 'nu --testbin echo_env FOO; nu --testbin echo_env_stderr BAZ'} | save -r save_test_12/log.txt --stderr save_test_12/err.txt"#,
         );
 
         assert!(actual.err.contains("Destination file already exists"));
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ fn save_override_works_stderr() {
             r#"
             $env.FOO = "New";
             $env.BAZ = "New Err";
-            do -i {nu -c 'nu --testbin echo_env FOO; nu --testbin echo_env_stderr BAZ'} | save -f -r save_test_13/log.txt --stderr save_test_13/err.txt"#,
+            do -i {nu -n -c 'nu --testbin echo_env FOO; nu --testbin echo_env_stderr BAZ'} | save -f -r save_test_13/log.txt --stderr save_test_13/err.txt"#,
         );
 
         let actual = file_contents(expected_file);
diff --git a/crates/nu-std/tests/logger_tests/test_basic_commands.nu b/crates/nu-std/tests/logger_tests/test_basic_commands.nu
index c2dcba5a71..7956d5fbd6 100644
--- a/crates/nu-std/tests/logger_tests/test_basic_commands.nu
+++ b/crates/nu-std/tests/logger_tests/test_basic_commands.nu
@@ -6,9 +6,9 @@ def run [
     --short
 ] {
     if $short {
-        ^$nu.current-exe --commands $'use std; NU_log-level=($system_level) std log ($message_level) --short "test message"'
+        ^$nu.current-exe --no-config-file --commands $'use std; NU_log-level=($system_level) std log ($message_level) --short "test message"'
     } else {
-        ^$nu.current-exe --commands $'use std; NU_log-level=($system_level) std log ($message_level) "test message"'
+        ^$nu.current-exe --no-config-file --commands $'use std; NU_log-level=($system_level) std log ($message_level) "test message"'
     }
     | complete | get --ignore-errors stderr
 }
diff --git a/crates/nu-std/tests/logger_tests/test_log_custom.nu b/crates/nu-std/tests/logger_tests/test_log_custom.nu
index 626e1f50b0..57aef1f547 100644
--- a/crates/nu-std/tests/logger_tests/test_log_custom.nu
+++ b/crates/nu-std/tests/logger_tests/test_log_custom.nu
@@ -12,12 +12,12 @@ def run-command [
 ] {
     if ($level_prefix | is-empty) {
         if ($ansi | is-empty) {
-            ^$nu.current-exe --commands $'use std; NU_log-level=($system_level) std log custom "($message)" "($format)" ($log_level)'
+            ^$nu.current-exe --no-config-file --commands $'use std; NU_log-level=($system_level) std log custom "($message)" "($format)" ($log_level)'
         } else {
-            ^$nu.current-exe --commands $'use std; NU_log-level=($system_level) std log custom "($message)" "($format)" ($log_level) --ansi "($ansi)"'
+            ^$nu.current-exe --no-config-file --commands $'use std; NU_log-level=($system_level) std log custom "($message)" "($format)" ($log_level) --ansi "($ansi)"'
         }
     } else {
-        ^$nu.current-exe --commands $'use std; NU_log-level=($system_level) std log custom "($message)" "($format)" ($log_level) --level-prefix "($level_prefix)" --ansi "($ansi)"'
+        ^$nu.current-exe --no-config-file --commands $'use std; NU_log-level=($system_level) std log custom "($message)" "($format)" ($log_level) --level-prefix "($level_prefix)" --ansi "($ansi)"'
     }
     | complete | get --ignore-errors stderr
 }
diff --git a/crates/nu-std/tests/logger_tests/test_log_format_flag.nu b/crates/nu-std/tests/logger_tests/test_log_format_flag.nu
index 93dec10acc..f2a6f6e27f 100644
--- a/crates/nu-std/tests/logger_tests/test_log_format_flag.nu
+++ b/crates/nu-std/tests/logger_tests/test_log_format_flag.nu
@@ -10,9 +10,9 @@ def run-command [
     --short
 ] {
     if $short {
-        ^$nu.current-exe --commands $'use std; NU_log-level=($system_level) std log ($message_level) --format "($format)" --short "($message)"'
+        ^$nu.current-exe --no-config-file --commands $'use std; NU_log-level=($system_level) std log ($message_level) --format "($format)" --short "($message)"'
     } else {
-        ^$nu.current-exe --commands $'use std; NU_log-level=($system_level) std log ($message_level) --format "($format)" "($message)"'
+        ^$nu.current-exe --no-config-file --commands $'use std; NU_log-level=($system_level) std log ($message_level) --format "($format)" "($message)"'
     }
     | complete | get --ignore-errors stderr
 }
diff --git a/crates/nu-test-support/src/macros.rs b/crates/nu-test-support/src/macros.rs
index d0957355f1..386127f0b3 100644
--- a/crates/nu-test-support/src/macros.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-test-support/src/macros.rs
@@ -255,8 +255,8 @@ pub fn nu_run_test(opts: NuOpts, commands: impl AsRef<str>, with_std: bool) -> O
     command
         .env(nu_utils::locale::LOCALE_OVERRIDE_ENV_VAR, locale)
         .env(NATIVE_PATH_ENV_VAR, paths_joined);
-    // TODO: consider adding custom plugin path for tests to
-    // not interfere with user local environment
+    // Ensure that the user's config doesn't interfere with the tests
+    command.arg("--no-config-file");
     if !with_std {
         command.arg("--no-std-lib");
     }
@@ -265,6 +265,9 @@ pub fn nu_run_test(opts: NuOpts, commands: impl AsRef<str>, with_std: bool) -> O
         .stdout(Stdio::piped())
         .stderr(Stdio::piped());
 
+    // Uncomment to debug the command being run:
+    // println!("=== command\n{command:?}\n");
+
     let process = match command.spawn() {
         Ok(child) => child,
         Err(why) => panic!("Can't run test {:?} {}", crate::fs::executable_path(), why),
@@ -293,8 +296,12 @@ pub fn nu_with_plugin_run_test(cwd: impl AsRef<Path>, plugins: &[&str], command:
     });
 
     let temp = tempdir().expect("couldn't create a temporary directory");
-    let temp_plugin_file = temp.path().join("plugin.nu");
-    std::fs::File::create(&temp_plugin_file).expect("couldn't create temporary plugin file");
+    let [temp_config_file, temp_env_config_file, temp_plugin_file] =
+        ["config.nu", "env.nu", "plugin.nu"].map(|name| {
+            let temp_file = temp.path().join(name);
+            std::fs::File::create(&temp_file).expect("couldn't create temporary config file");
+            temp_file
+        });
 
     crate::commands::ensure_plugins_built();
 
@@ -320,6 +327,10 @@ pub fn nu_with_plugin_run_test(cwd: impl AsRef<Path>, plugins: &[&str], command:
     let process = match setup_command(&executable_path, &target_cwd)
         .arg("--commands")
         .arg(commands)
+        .arg("--config")
+        .arg(temp_config_file)
+        .arg("--env-config")
+        .arg(temp_env_config_file)
         .arg("--plugin-config")
         .arg(temp_plugin_file)
         .stdout(Stdio::piped())
diff --git a/src/run.rs b/src/run.rs
index 2dc3afa383..eb6af3f0ab 100644
--- a/src/run.rs
+++ b/src/run.rs
@@ -146,57 +146,69 @@ pub(crate) fn run_file(
 ) -> Result<(), miette::ErrReport> {
     trace!("run_file");
     let mut stack = nu_protocol::engine::Stack::new();
-    let start_time = std::time::Instant::now();
 
-    #[cfg(feature = "plugin")]
-    read_plugin_file(
-        engine_state,
-        &mut stack,
-        parsed_nu_cli_args.plugin_file,
-        NUSHELL_FOLDER,
-    );
-    perf(
-        "read plugins",
-        start_time,
-        file!(),
-        line!(),
-        column!(),
-        use_color,
-    );
-
-    let start_time = std::time::Instant::now();
-    // only want to load config and env if relative argument is provided.
-    if parsed_nu_cli_args.env_file.is_some() {
-        config_files::read_config_file(engine_state, &mut stack, parsed_nu_cli_args.env_file, true);
-    } else {
-        config_files::read_default_env_file(engine_state, &mut stack)
-    }
-    perf(
-        "read env.nu",
-        start_time,
-        file!(),
-        line!(),
-        column!(),
-        use_color,
-    );
-
-    let start_time = std::time::Instant::now();
-    if parsed_nu_cli_args.config_file.is_some() {
-        config_files::read_config_file(
+    // if the --no-config-file(-n) option is NOT passed, load the plugin file,
+    // load the default env file or custom (depending on parsed_nu_cli_args.env_file),
+    // and maybe a custom config file (depending on parsed_nu_cli_args.config_file)
+    //
+    // if the --no-config-file(-n) flag is passed, do not load plugin, env, or config files
+    if parsed_nu_cli_args.no_config_file.is_none() {
+        let start_time = std::time::Instant::now();
+        #[cfg(feature = "plugin")]
+        read_plugin_file(
             engine_state,
             &mut stack,
-            parsed_nu_cli_args.config_file,
-            false,
+            parsed_nu_cli_args.plugin_file,
+            NUSHELL_FOLDER,
+        );
+        perf(
+            "read plugins",
+            start_time,
+            file!(),
+            line!(),
+            column!(),
+            use_color,
+        );
+
+        let start_time = std::time::Instant::now();
+        // only want to load config and env if relative argument is provided.
+        if parsed_nu_cli_args.env_file.is_some() {
+            config_files::read_config_file(
+                engine_state,
+                &mut stack,
+                parsed_nu_cli_args.env_file,
+                true,
+            );
+        } else {
+            config_files::read_default_env_file(engine_state, &mut stack)
+        }
+        perf(
+            "read env.nu",
+            start_time,
+            file!(),
+            line!(),
+            column!(),
+            use_color,
+        );
+
+        let start_time = std::time::Instant::now();
+        if parsed_nu_cli_args.config_file.is_some() {
+            config_files::read_config_file(
+                engine_state,
+                &mut stack,
+                parsed_nu_cli_args.config_file,
+                false,
+            );
+        }
+        perf(
+            "read config.nu",
+            start_time,
+            file!(),
+            line!(),
+            column!(),
+            use_color,
         );
     }
-    perf(
-        "read config.nu",
-        start_time,
-        file!(),
-        line!(),
-        column!(),
-        use_color,
-    );
 
     // Regenerate the $nu constant to contain the startup time and any other potential updates
     let nu_const = create_nu_constant(engine_state, input.span().unwrap_or_else(Span::unknown))?;
diff --git a/tests/shell/mod.rs b/tests/shell/mod.rs
index 433e193423..7f15d3027c 100644
--- a/tests/shell/mod.rs
+++ b/tests/shell/mod.rs
@@ -243,7 +243,7 @@ fn run_in_login_mode() {
 #[test]
 fn run_in_not_login_mode() {
     let child_output = std::process::Command::new(nu_test_support::fs::executable_path())
-        .args(["-c", "echo $nu.is-login"])
+        .args(["-n", "-c", "echo $nu.is-login"])
         .output()
         .expect("failed to run nu");
 
@@ -254,7 +254,7 @@ fn run_in_not_login_mode() {
 #[test]
 fn run_in_interactive_mode() {
     let child_output = std::process::Command::new(nu_test_support::fs::executable_path())
-        .args(["-i", "-c", "echo $nu.is-interactive"])
+        .args(["-n", "-i", "-c", "echo $nu.is-interactive"])
         .output()
         .expect("failed to run nu");
 
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ fn run_in_interactive_mode() {
 #[test]
 fn run_in_noninteractive_mode() {
     let child_output = std::process::Command::new(nu_test_support::fs::executable_path())
-        .args(["-c", "echo $nu.is-interactive"])
+        .args(["-n", "-c", "echo $nu.is-interactive"])
         .output()
         .expect("failed to run nu");
 
diff --git a/tests/shell/pipeline/commands/external.rs b/tests/shell/pipeline/commands/external.rs
index ea644710ff..6cd11fd5e9 100644
--- a/tests/shell/pipeline/commands/external.rs
+++ b/tests/shell/pipeline/commands/external.rs
@@ -375,7 +375,7 @@ mod nu_commands {
     #[test]
     fn echo_internally_externally() {
         let actual = nu!(r#"
-        nu -c "echo 'foo'"
+        nu -n -c "echo 'foo'"
         "#);
 
         assert_eq!(actual.out, "foo");
@@ -385,7 +385,7 @@ mod nu_commands {
     fn failed_with_proper_exit_code() {
         Playground::setup("external failed", |dirs, _sandbox| {
             let actual = nu!(cwd: dirs.test(), r#"
-            nu -c "cargo build | complete | get exit_code"
+            nu -n -c "cargo build | complete | get exit_code"
             "#);
 
             // cargo for non rust project's exit code is 101.
@@ -396,7 +396,7 @@ mod nu_commands {
     #[test]
     fn better_arg_quoting() {
         let actual = nu!(r#"
-        nu -c "\# '"
+        nu -n -c "\# '"
         "#);
 
         assert_eq!(actual.out, "");
@@ -405,7 +405,7 @@ mod nu_commands {
     #[test]
     fn command_list_arg_test() {
         let actual = nu!("
-        nu ...['-c' 'version']
+        nu ...['-n' '-c' 'version']
         ");
 
         assert!(actual.out.contains("version"));
@@ -416,7 +416,7 @@ mod nu_commands {
     #[test]
     fn command_cell_path_arg_test() {
         let actual = nu!("
-        nu ...([ '-c' 'version' ])
+        nu ...([ '-n' '-c' 'version' ])
         ");
 
         assert!(actual.out.contains("version"));
@@ -431,7 +431,7 @@ mod nu_script {
     #[test]
     fn run_nu_script() {
         let actual = nu!(cwd: "tests/fixtures/formats", "
-        nu script.nu
+        nu -n script.nu
         ");
 
         assert_eq!(actual.out, "done");
@@ -440,7 +440,7 @@ mod nu_script {
     #[test]
     fn run_nu_script_multiline() {
         let actual = nu!(cwd: "tests/fixtures/formats", "
-        nu script_multiline.nu
+        nu -n script_multiline.nu
         ");
 
         assert_eq!(actual.out, "23");
diff --git a/toolkit.nu b/toolkit.nu
index bfd1d01a5b..a8007b4237 100644
--- a/toolkit.nu
+++ b/toolkit.nu
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ export def test [
 export def "test stdlib" [
     --extra-args: string = ''
 ] {
-    cargo run -- -c $"
+    cargo run -- --no-config-file -c $"
         use crates/nu-std/testing.nu
         testing run-tests --path crates/nu-std ($extra_args)
     "