diff --git a/tools/ironic/scripts/cleanup-nodes b/tools/ironic/scripts/cleanup-nodes
index dc5a19d..adeca5c 100755
--- a/tools/ironic/scripts/cleanup-nodes
+++ b/tools/ironic/scripts/cleanup-nodes
@@ -8,10 +8,13 @@
 set -exu
 
 LIBVIRT_STORAGE_POOL=${LIBVIRT_STORAGE_POOL:-"default"}
+LIBVIRT_CONNECT_URI=${LIBVIRT_CONNECT_URI:-"qemu:///system"}
 
 VM_COUNT=$1
 NETWORK_BRIDGE=$2
 
+export VIRSH_DEFAULT_CONNECT_URI=$LIBVIRT_CONNECT_URI
+
 for (( idx=0; idx<$VM_COUNT; idx++ )); do
     NAME="baremetal${NETWORK_BRIDGE}_${idx}"
     VOL_NAME="baremetal${NETWORK_BRIDGE}-${idx}.qcow2"