diff --git a/src/testdir/shared.vim b/src/testdir/shared.vim
index 5985ff9..a9b0905 100644
--- a/src/testdir/shared.vim
+++ b/src/testdir/shared.vim
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@
   if !filereadable('vimcmd')
     return 0
   endif
-  let args = a:arguments
+  let args = ''
   if len(a:before) > 0
     call writefile(a:before, 'Xbefore.vim')
     let args .= ' --cmd "so Xbefore.vim"'
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@
   if cmd !~ '-u NONE'
     let cmd = cmd . ' -u NONE'
   endif
-  exe "silent !" . cmd . ' ' . args
+  exe "silent !" . cmd . args . ' ' . a:arguments
 
   if len(a:before) > 0
     call delete('Xbefore.vim')