diff --git a/examples/kubernetes/vttablet-up.sh b/examples/kubernetes/vttablet-up.sh
index 268b5f84071..7ef599f5808 100755
--- a/examples/kubernetes/vttablet-up.sh
+++ b/examples/kubernetes/vttablet-up.sh
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ script_root=`dirname "${BASH_SOURCE}"`
 source $script_root/env.sh
 
 # Create the pods for shard-0
-keyspace='test_keyspace'
+keyspace=${KEYSPACE:-'test_keyspace'}
 SHARDS=${SHARDS:-'0'}
 TABLETS_PER_SHARD=${TABLETS_PER_SHARD:-5}
 port=15002
diff --git a/examples/local/vttablet-up.sh b/examples/local/vttablet-up.sh
index 877cb9f3497..9ff3f42282b 100755
--- a/examples/local/vttablet-up.sh
+++ b/examples/local/vttablet-up.sh
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 set -e
 
 cell='test'
-keyspace='test_keyspace'
+keyspace=${KEYSPACE:-'test_keyspace'}
 shard=${SHARD:-'0'}
 uid_base=${UID_BASE:-'100'}
 port_base=$[15000 + $uid_base]