diff --git a/test/README.md b/test/README.md
index 2d89364606..e35a212510 100644
--- a/test/README.md
+++ b/test/README.md
@@ -46,14 +46,9 @@ optional arguments:
   --version Future|vXX   selects the network template file
 ```
 
-To run a specific test:
+To run a specific test, run e2e.sh with -i interactive flag, and follow the instructions:
 ```
-~$ ./e2e_client_runner.py /full/path/to/e2e_subs/test_script.sh
-```
-
-Make sure to install the Algorand Python SDK before running:
-```
-pip install py-algorand-sdk
+test/scripts/e2e.sh -i
 ```
 
 Tests in the `e2e_subs/serial` directory are executed serially instead of in parallel. This should only be used when absolutely necessary.
diff --git a/test/scripts/e2e.sh b/test/scripts/e2e.sh
index 9de5eaace2..571d117819 100755
--- a/test/scripts/e2e.sh
+++ b/test/scripts/e2e.sh
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ Options:
     -n        Run tests without building binaries (Binaries are expected in PATH)
 "
 NO_BUILD=false
-while getopts ":c:nh" opt; do
+while getopts ":c:nhi" opt; do
   case ${opt} in
     c ) CHANNEL=$OPTARG
       ;;
@@ -33,7 +33,11 @@ while getopts ":c:nh" opt; do
       ;;
     h ) echo "${HELP}"
         exit 0
-      ;;
+	;;
+    i ) echo "  Interactive session"
+	echo "######################################################################"
+	INTERACTIVE=true
+	;;
     \? ) echo "${HELP}"
         exit 2
       ;;
@@ -122,6 +126,23 @@ if [ -z "$E2E_TEST_FILTER" ] || [ "$E2E_TEST_FILTER" == "SCRIPTS" ]; then
     "${TEMPDIR}/ve/bin/pip3" install --upgrade py-algorand-sdk cryptography
     duration "e2e client setup"
 
+    if [ $INTERACTIVE ]; then
+	echo "********** READY **********"
+	echo "The test environment is now set. Run the tests using the following command on a different terminal after setting the path."
+	echo ""
+	echo "export VIRTUAL_ENV=\"${TEMPDIR}/ve\""
+	echo "export PATH=\"\$VIRTUAL_ENV/bin:\$PATH\""
+	echo ""
+	echo "${TEMPDIR}/ve/bin/python3" test/scripts/e2e_client_runner.py ${RUN_KMD_WITH_UNSAFE_SCRYPT} "$SRCROOT"/test/scripts/e2e_subs/SCRIPT_FILE_NAME
+	echo ""
+	echo "Press enter to shut down the test environment..."
+	read a
+	echo -n "deactivating..."
+	deactivate
+	echo "done"
+	exit
+    fi
+
     "${TEMPDIR}/ve/bin/python3" e2e_client_runner.py ${RUN_KMD_WITH_UNSAFE_SCRYPT} "$SRCROOT"/test/scripts/e2e_subs/*.{sh,py}
     duration "parallel client runner"