diff --git a/cmd/declarative.go b/cmd/declarative.go
index 2b248e01..16adfb8c 100644
--- a/cmd/declarative.go
+++ b/cmd/declarative.go
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ func runTestSteps(test declarative.Test) error {
 	switch test.Runner {
 	case "HostRunner":
 		runner = &declarative.Hostrunner{}
-		ctx = nil
+		ctx = context.TODO()
 	case "ContainerRunner":
 		// spawn an alpine container
 		runner = &declarative.Containerrunner{Image: "golang"}