diff --git a/src/firejail/sbox.c b/src/firejail/sbox.c
index e7fa267d8..97ba3b07e 100644
--- a/src/firejail/sbox.c
+++ b/src/firejail/sbox.c
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 #endif
 
 static int sbox_do_exec_v(unsigned filtermask, char * const arg[]) {
+	// build a new, clean environment
 	int env_index = 0;
 	char *new_environment[256] = { NULL };
 	// preserve firejail-specific env vars
@@ -40,7 +41,6 @@ static int sbox_do_exec_v(unsigned filtermask, char * const arg[]) {
 		if (asprintf(&new_environment[env_index++], "FIREJAIL_FILE_COPY_LIMIT=%s", cl) == -1)
 			errExit("asprintf");
 	}
-	clearenv();
 	if (arg_quiet) // --quiet is passed as an environment variable
 		new_environment[env_index++] = "FIREJAIL_QUIET=yes";
 	if (arg_debug) // --debug is passed as an environment variable