diff --git a/sau/helpers.py b/sau/helpers.py
index 6096abb..e1faf18 100644
--- a/sau/helpers.py
+++ b/sau/helpers.py
@@ -1,17 +1,21 @@
 import logging
+import os
 import subprocess
 import time
 
 import sau
 
 def exec_cmd(cmd, timeout=900, env = None):
+    my_env = os.environ.copy()
+    if env:
+        my_env.update(env)
     log = logging.getLogger(sau.LOGNAME)
     log.debug('Executing "{}"'.format(' '.join(cmd)))
     proc = subprocess.Popen(
             cmd,
             stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
             stderr=subprocess.PIPE,
-            env = env)
+            env = my_env)
     out = b""
     err = b""