diff --git a/test/integration/Makefile b/test/integration/Makefile
index b02592eaf2c..48382cd4c49 100644
--- a/test/integration/Makefile
+++ b/test/integration/Makefile
@@ -26,8 +26,10 @@ EUID := $(shell id -u -r)
 all: setup test_test_infra parsing test_var_precedence unicode test_templating_settings environment non_destructive destructive includes blocks pull check_mode test_hash test_handlers test_group_by test_vault test_tags test_lookup_paths no_log test_connection test_gathering_facts
 
 test_test_infra:
-	# ensure fail/assert work and can stop execution with non-zero exit code
-	PB_OUT=$$(ansible-playbook -i $(INVENTORY) test_test_infra.yml -e @$(VARS_FILE) $(CREDENTIALS_ARG) $(TEST_FLAGS)) ; APB_RC=$$? ; echo "$$PB_OUT" ; echo "rc was $$APB_RC (must be non-zero)" ; [ $$APB_RC -ne 0 ]
+	# ensure fail/assert work locally and can stop execution with non-zero exit code
+	PB_OUT=$$(ansible-playbook -i inventory.local test_test_infra.yml) ; APB_RC=$$? ; echo "$$PB_OUT" ; echo "rc was $$APB_RC (must be non-zero)" ; [ $$APB_RC -ne 0 ] ; echo "ensure playbook output shows assert/fail works (True)" ; echo "$$PB_OUT" | grep "fail works (True)" || exit 1 ; echo "$$PB_OUT" | fgrep "assert works (True)" || exit 1
+	# ensure we work using all specified test args, overridden inventory, etc
+	PB_OUT=$$(ansible-playbook -i $(INVENTORY) test_test_infra.yml -e @$(VARS_FILE) $(CREDENTIALS_ARG) $(TEST_FLAGS)) ; APB_RC=$$? ; echo "$$PB_OUT" ; echo "rc was $$APB_RC (must be non-zero)" ; [ $$APB_RC -ne 0 ] ; echo "ensure playbook output shows assert/fail works (True)" ; echo "$$PB_OUT" | grep "fail works (True)" || exit 1 ; echo "$$PB_OUT" | fgrep "assert works (True)" || exit 1
 
 setup:
 	rm -rf $(TEST_DIR)
diff --git a/test/integration/inventory.local b/test/integration/inventory.local
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..2baa1f88fbe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/inventory.local
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+testhost ansible_connection=local
+