diff --git a/build__instance-autotest-pair.sh b/build__instance-autotest-pair.sh
index c18c497..a33ae41 100755
--- a/build__instance-autotest-pair.sh
+++ b/build__instance-autotest-pair.sh
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ main() {
 
         # vars used in common_start and end
         target='instance-autotest-pair'
-        persistence='n'
+        persistence="${persistence:-n}"
         idhubs='idhub1 idhub2'
         idhub_branch='release'
 
diff --git a/build__instance-autotest.sh b/build__instance-autotest.sh
index 9c4b692..176476d 100755
--- a/build__instance-autotest.sh
+++ b/build__instance-autotest.sh
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ main() {
 
         # vars used in common_start and end
         target='instance-autotest'
-        persistence='n'
+        persistence="${persistence:-n}"
         idhubs='idhub'
         idhub_branch='release'
 
diff --git a/build__instance-nightly-pair.sh b/build__instance-nightly-pair.sh
index 4ba4537..f375c74 100755
--- a/build__instance-nightly-pair.sh
+++ b/build__instance-nightly-pair.sh
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ main() {
 
         # vars used in common_start and end
         target='instance-nightly-pair'
-        persistence='n'
+        persistence="${persistence:-n}"
         idhubs='idhub1 idhub2'
         idhub_branch='release'
 
diff --git a/build__instance-nightly.sh b/build__instance-nightly.sh
index c4de6dd..f2a1282 100755
--- a/build__instance-nightly.sh
+++ b/build__instance-nightly.sh
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ main() {
 
         # vars used in common_start and end
         target='instance-nightly'
-        persistence='n'
+        persistence="${persistence:-n}"
         idhubs='idhub'
         idhub_branch='release'