diff --git a/test/test.sh b/test/test.sh
index bf5f3a7..046ee20 100755
--- a/test/test.sh
+++ b/test/test.sh
@@ -58,18 +58,24 @@ _testZFSReplicate() {
 
   ## test config override
   (
+    ## likely default values at script load time
+    ZFS="/sbin/zfs"
+    SSH="/usr/sbin/ssh"
     ## source script functions
     # shellcheck source=/dev/null
     . ../zfs-replicate.sh
     printf "_testSetsNoConfig/loadConfigOverrideDefaults\n"
-    _fail "./ssh.sh %HOST% ./zfs.sh receive -vFd" "$DEST_PIPE_WITH_HOST"
-    _fail "./zfs.sh receive -vFd" "$DEST_PIPE_WITHOUT_HOST"
+    _fail "/usr/sbin/ssh %HOST% /sbin/zfs receive -vFd" "$DEST_PIPE_WITH_HOST"
+    _fail "/sbin/zfs receive -vFd" "$DEST_PIPE_WITHOUT_HOST"
+    ## generate config
     config="$(mktemp)"
-    printf "DEST_PIPE_WITH_HOST=\"pipe with host\"\n" | tee -a "$config"
-    printf "DEST_PIPE_WITHOUT_HOST=\"pipe without host\"\n" | tee -a "$config"
-    loadConfig "$config" > /dev/null 2>&1
-    _fail "pipe with host" "$DEST_PIPE_WITH_HOST"
-    _fail "pipe without host" "$DEST_PIPE_WITHOUT_HOST"
+    printf "ZFS=\"myZFS\"\n" >> "$config"
+    ## set SSH via environment
+    SSH="mySSH"
+    loadConfig "$config" && rm -f "$config"
+    ## values should match config and environment
+    _fail "mySSH %HOST% myZFS receive -vFd" "$DEST_PIPE_WITH_HOST"
+    _fail "myZFS receive -vFd" "$DEST_PIPE_WITHOUT_HOST"
   )
 
   ## test snapCreate
diff --git a/zfs-replicate.sh b/zfs-replicate.sh
index 3b9874f..aaaabb2 100755
--- a/zfs-replicate.sh
+++ b/zfs-replicate.sh
@@ -38,13 +38,12 @@ LOGGER="${LOGGER:-$(which logger || true)}"
 FIND="${FIND:-$(which find || true)}"
 SSH="${SSH:-$(which ssh || true)}"
 ZFS="${ZFS:-$(which zfs || true)}"
-DEST_PIPE_WITH_HOST="${DEST_PIPE_WITH_HOST:-"$SSH %HOST% $ZFS receive -vFd"}"
-DEST_PIPE_WITHOUT_HOST="${DEST_PIPE_WITHOUT_HOST:-"$ZFS receive -vFd"}"
 HOST_CHECK="${HOST_CHECK:-"ping -c1 -q -W2 %HOST%"}"
-
+## we default these after config is loaded
+DEST_PIPE_WITH_HOST=
+DEST_PIPE_WITHOUT_HOST=
 ## temp path used for lock files
 TMPDIR="${TMPDIR:-"/tmp"}"
-
 ## init values used in snapCreate and exitClean
 __PAIR_COUNT=0
 __SKIP_COUNT=0
@@ -500,10 +499,11 @@ loadConfig() {
   readonly FIND
   readonly SSH
   readonly ZFS
-  readonly DEST_PIPE_WITH_HOST
-  readonly DEST_PIPE_WITHOUT_HOST
   readonly HOST_CHECK
   readonly TMPDIR
+  ## set pipes after configuration to ensure proper $SSH and $ZFS subs
+  readonly DEST_PIPE_WITH_HOST="${DEST_PIPE_WITH_HOST:-"$SSH %HOST% $ZFS receive -vFd"}"
+  readonly DEST_PIPE_WITHOUT_HOST="${DEST_PIPE_WITHOUT_HOST:-"$ZFS receive -vFd"}"
   ## check configuration
   if [ -n "$LOG_BASE" ] && [ ! -d "$LOG_BASE" ]; then
     mkdir -p "$LOG_BASE"