diff --git a/bitbake-dev/bin/bitbake b/bitbake-dev/bin/bitbake
index 247b54fcd3..87284c08fe 100755
--- a/bitbake-dev/bin/bitbake
+++ b/bitbake-dev/bin/bitbake
@@ -141,15 +141,10 @@ Default BBFILES are the .bb files in the current directory.""" )
 
     cooker = bb.cooker.BBCooker(configuration)
 
-    # Optionally clean up the environment
-    if 'BB_PRESERVE_ENV' not in os.environ:
-        if 'BB_ENV_WHITELIST' in os.environ:
-            good_vars = os.environ['BB_ENV_WHITELIST'].split()
-        else:
-            good_vars = bb.utils.preserved_envvars_list()
-        if 'BB_ENV_EXTRAWHITE' in os.environ:
-            good_vars.extend(os.environ['BB_ENV_EXTRAWHITE'].split())
-        bb.utils.filter_environment(good_vars)
+    # Clear away any spurious environment variables. But don't wipe the
+    # environment totally. This is necessary to ensure the correct operation
+    # of the UIs (e.g. for DISPLAY, etc.)
+    bb.utils.clean_environment()
 
     cooker.parseConfiguration()
     host = cooker.server.host
diff --git a/bitbake-dev/lib/bb/cooker.py b/bitbake-dev/lib/bb/cooker.py
index 8feb228faf..6d04d38080 100644
--- a/bitbake-dev/lib/bb/cooker.py
+++ b/bitbake-dev/lib/bb/cooker.py
@@ -907,6 +907,10 @@ class BBCooker:
 
     def serve(self):
 
+        # Empty the environment. The environment will be populated as
+        # necessary from the data store.
+        bb.utils.empty_environment()
+
         if self.configuration.profile:
             try:
                 import cProfile as profile
diff --git a/bitbake-dev/lib/bb/data.py b/bitbake-dev/lib/bb/data.py
index 82eef44989..19e67dbc37 100644
--- a/bitbake-dev/lib/bb/data.py
+++ b/bitbake-dev/lib/bb/data.py
@@ -331,8 +331,6 @@ def inheritFromOS(d):
             setVar(s, os.environ[s], d)
         except TypeError:
             pass
-        os.unsetenv(s)
-        del os.environ[s]
 
 def emit_var(var, o=sys.__stdout__, d = init(), all=False):
     """Emit a variable to be sourced by a shell."""
diff --git a/bitbake-dev/lib/bb/utils.py b/bitbake-dev/lib/bb/utils.py
index 119f08582d..94bc62f7cf 100644
--- a/bitbake-dev/lib/bb/utils.py
+++ b/bitbake-dev/lib/bb/utils.py
@@ -354,6 +354,28 @@ def filter_environment(good_vars):
 
     return removed_vars
 
+def clean_environment():
+    """
+    Clean up any spurious environment variables. This will remove any
+    variables the user hasn't chose to preserve.
+    """
+    if 'BB_PRESERVE_ENV' not in os.environ:
+        if 'BB_ENV_WHITELIST' in os.environ:
+            good_vars = os.environ['BB_ENV_WHITELIST'].split()
+        else:
+            good_vars = preserved_envvars_list()
+        if 'BB_ENV_EXTRAWHITE' in os.environ:
+            good_vars.extend(os.environ['BB_ENV_EXTRAWHITE'].split())
+        filter_environment(good_vars)
+
+def empty_environment():
+    """
+    Remove all variable from the environment.
+    """
+    for s in os.environ.keys():
+        os.unsetenv(s)
+        del os.environ[s]
+
 def prunedir(topdir):
     # Delete everything reachable from the directory named in 'topdir'.
     # CAUTION:  This is dangerous!