diff --git a/newlib/examples/tests.c b/newlib/examples/tests.c
index 78603b14..20723195 100644
--- a/newlib/examples/tests.c
+++ b/newlib/examples/tests.c
@@ -36,8 +36,10 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv)
 
 	pid = fork();
 	if (pid == 0) { // child
+		char* args[] = {"/bin/hello", (char*) 0};
+
 		printf("Hello from child process!\n");
-		exit(42);
+		execve("/bin/hello", args, environ);
 	} else {
 		printf("Hello from parent process! pid = %u\n", pid);
 		wait(&status);
diff --git a/newlib/src/libgloss/metalsvm/environ.c b/newlib/src/libgloss/metalsvm/environ.c
index 26ff78c6..1dd0e212 100644
--- a/newlib/src/libgloss/metalsvm/environ.c
+++ b/newlib/src/libgloss/metalsvm/environ.c
@@ -17,5 +17,6 @@
  * This file is part of MetalSVM. 
  */
 
-char *__env[1] = { 0 }; 
+/* default environment */
+char *__env[] = { "USER=root", "PATH=/bin:/sbin:/usr/bin", "PWD=/", (char *) 0 };
 char **environ = __env;