diff --git a/mx.fastr/mx_fastr.py b/mx.fastr/mx_fastr.py
index d5b3f03b8e1e02bf9589a4b67e325a7aa6a1407d..8680af8cf272bef761faaeab19ebf681a2d9c6b0 100644
--- a/mx.fastr/mx_fastr.py
+++ b/mx.fastr/mx_fastr.py
@@ -286,7 +286,6 @@ def _junit_r_harness(args, vmArgs, jdk, junitArgs):
     vmArgs += _graal_options(nocompile=True)
 
     setREnvironment()
-    vmArgs = _sanitize_vmArgs(jdk, vmArgs)
 
     return mx.run_java(vmArgs + junitArgs, nonZeroIsFatal=False, jdk=jdk)