diff --git a/tests/circuitpython/getenv.py b/tests/circuitpython/getenv.py
index 68dd328cfb..f01189a551 100644
--- a/tests/circuitpython/getenv.py
+++ b/tests/circuitpython/getenv.py
@@ -72,6 +72,8 @@ def run_test(key, content):
         print(key, str(e))
 
 
+run_test("key", b"")
+
 for i in range(13):
     run_test(f"key{i}", content_good)
 
diff --git a/tests/circuitpython/getenv.py.exp b/tests/circuitpython/getenv.py.exp
index ba1b1b3f90..925dafb469 100644
--- a/tests/circuitpython/getenv.py.exp
+++ b/tests/circuitpython/getenv.py.exp
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+key None
 key0 'hello world'
 key1 7
 key2 '\n'