diff --git a/dev/release/verify-release-candidate.sh b/dev/release/verify-release-candidate.sh
index 56c671910f0..9213cdea013 100755
--- a/dev/release/verify-release-candidate.sh
+++ b/dev/release/verify-release-candidate.sh
@@ -1027,7 +1027,9 @@ TEST_SUCCESS=no
 
 setup_tempdir
 ensure_source_directory
-test_source_distribution
+# Run source tests in a subshell so environment variables
+# set for source testing aren't exposed to the binary tests.
+(test_source_distribution)
 test_binary_distribution
 
 TEST_SUCCESS=yes