diff --git a/bin/emqx b/bin/emqx
index 8bd3640fa..2e1803eff 100755
--- a/bin/emqx
+++ b/bin/emqx
@@ -864,10 +864,12 @@ case "${COMMAND}" in
         then
           "$REL_DIR/elixir" \
               --hidden \
+              --name "rand-$(relx_gen_id)-$NAME" \
               --cookie "$COOKIE" \
               --boot "$REL_DIR/start_clean" \
               --boot-var RELEASE_LIB "$ERTS_LIB_DIR" \
-              --vm-args "$(latest_vm_args 'EMQX_NODE__NAME')"\
+              --vm-args "$REL_DIR/remote.vm.args" \
+              --erl "-start_epmd false -epmd_module ekka_epmd" \
               --rpc-eval "$NAME" "$@"
         else
           relx_nodetool "eval" "$@"