diff --git a/base-notebook/test/test_container_options.py b/base-notebook/test/test_container_options.py
index ca8b61fe..8e49ee41 100644
--- a/base-notebook/test/test_container_options.py
+++ b/base-notebook/test/test_container_options.py
@@ -240,12 +240,13 @@ def test_container_not_delete_bind_mount(container, tmp_path):
     assert len(list(tmp_path.iterdir())) == 1
 
 
-def test_jupyter_env_vars_to_unset_as_root(container):
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("enable_root", [False, True])
+def test_jupyter_env_vars_to_unset_as_root(container, enable_root):
     """Environment variables names listed in JUPYTER_ENV_VARS_TO_UNSET
     should be unset in the final environment."""
+    root_args = {"user": "root"} if enable_root else {}
     c = container.run(
         tty=True,
-        user="root",
         environment=[
             "JUPYTER_ENV_VARS_TO_UNSET=SECRET_ANIMAL,UNUSED_ENV,SECRET_FRUIT",
             "FRUIT=bananas",
@@ -258,6 +259,7 @@ def test_jupyter_env_vars_to_unset_as_root(container):
             "-c",
             "echo I like $FRUIT and ${SECRET_FRUIT:-stuff}, and love ${SECRET_ANIMAL:-to keep secrets}!",
         ],
+        **root_args,
     )
     rv = c.wait(timeout=10)
     assert rv == 0 or rv["StatusCode"] == 0