diff --git a/test/vcs/bzr.sh b/test/vcs/bzr.sh
index 34e0ba0..565e01c 100644
--- a/test/vcs/bzr.sh
+++ b/test/vcs/bzr.sh
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 bzr_init () {
     WD=$1
     mkdir -p "$WD"
-    (cd "$WD" && bzr init)
+    (cd "$WD" && bzr init && bzr whoami --branch "Chester McTester <chester@example.com>")
 
     export VC_DIFF="bzr diff"
     export VC_RM="true"
diff --git a/test/vcs/darcs.sh b/test/vcs/darcs.sh
index d4f8498..613590e 100644
--- a/test/vcs/darcs.sh
+++ b/test/vcs/darcs.sh
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 darcs_init () {
     WD=$1
     mkdir -p "$WD"
-    (cd "$WD" && darcs init)
+    (cd "$WD" && darcs init && echo "Chester McTester" >_darcs/prefs/author)
 
     export VC_DIFF="darcs diff"
     export VC_RM="true"
diff --git a/test/vcs/hg.sh b/test/vcs/hg.sh
index 017087f..ad7764f 100644
--- a/test/vcs/hg.sh
+++ b/test/vcs/hg.sh
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 hg_init () {
     WD=$1
     mkdir -p "$WD"
-    (cd "$WD" && hg init)
+    (cd "$WD" && hg init && (echo "[ui]"; echo "username=Chester McTester") > .hg/hgrc)
 
     export VC_DIFF="hg diff"
     export VC_RM="hg rm"