diff --git a/django/db/backends/base/client.py b/django/db/backends/base/client.py
index 32901764aa..339f1e863c 100644
--- a/django/db/backends/base/client.py
+++ b/django/db/backends/base/client.py
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+import os
+import subprocess
+
+
 class BaseDatabaseClient:
     """Encapsulate backend-specific methods for opening a client shell."""
     # This should be a string representing the name of the executable
@@ -8,5 +12,15 @@ class BaseDatabaseClient:
         # connection is an instance of BaseDatabaseWrapper.
         self.connection = connection
 
+    @classmethod
+    def settings_to_cmd_args_env(cls, settings_dict, parameters):
+        raise NotImplementedError(
+            'subclasses of BaseDatabaseClient must provide a '
+            'settings_to_cmd_args_env() method or override a runshell().'
+        )
+
     def runshell(self, parameters):
-        raise NotImplementedError('subclasses of BaseDatabaseClient must provide a runshell() method')
+        args, env = self.settings_to_cmd_args_env(self.connection.settings_dict, parameters)
+        if env:
+            env = {**os.environ, **env}
+        subprocess.run(args, env=env, check=True)
diff --git a/django/db/backends/mysql/client.py b/django/db/backends/mysql/client.py
index a94d388ccd..79032c1207 100644
--- a/django/db/backends/mysql/client.py
+++ b/django/db/backends/mysql/client.py
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-import subprocess
-
 from django.db.backends.base.client import BaseDatabaseClient
 
 
@@ -7,7 +5,7 @@ class DatabaseClient(BaseDatabaseClient):
     executable_name = 'mysql'
 
     @classmethod
-    def settings_to_cmd_args(cls, settings_dict, parameters):
+    def settings_to_cmd_args_env(cls, settings_dict, parameters):
         args = [cls.executable_name]
         db = settings_dict['OPTIONS'].get('db', settings_dict['NAME'])
         user = settings_dict['OPTIONS'].get('user', settings_dict['USER'])
@@ -48,8 +46,4 @@ class DatabaseClient(BaseDatabaseClient):
         if db:
             args += [db]
         args.extend(parameters)
-        return args
-
-    def runshell(self, parameters):
-        args = DatabaseClient.settings_to_cmd_args(self.connection.settings_dict, parameters)
-        subprocess.run(args, check=True)
+        return args, None
diff --git a/django/db/backends/mysql/creation.py b/django/db/backends/mysql/creation.py
index 99372fd7ee..1f0261b667 100644
--- a/django/db/backends/mysql/creation.py
+++ b/django/db/backends/mysql/creation.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import os
 import subprocess
 import sys
 
@@ -55,12 +56,13 @@ class DatabaseCreation(BaseDatabaseCreation):
         self._clone_db(source_database_name, target_database_name)
 
     def _clone_db(self, source_database_name, target_database_name):
-        dump_args = DatabaseClient.settings_to_cmd_args(self.connection.settings_dict, [])[1:]
-        dump_cmd = ['mysqldump', *dump_args[:-1], '--routines', '--events', source_database_name]
-        load_cmd = DatabaseClient.settings_to_cmd_args(self.connection.settings_dict, [])
+        cmd_args, cmd_env = DatabaseClient.settings_to_cmd_args_env(self.connection.settings_dict, [])
+        dump_cmd = ['mysqldump', *cmd_args[1:-1], '--routines', '--events', source_database_name]
+        dump_env = load_env = {**os.environ, **cmd_env} if cmd_env else None
+        load_cmd = cmd_args
         load_cmd[-1] = target_database_name
 
-        with subprocess.Popen(dump_cmd, stdout=subprocess.PIPE) as dump_proc:
-            with subprocess.Popen(load_cmd, stdin=dump_proc.stdout, stdout=subprocess.DEVNULL):
+        with subprocess.Popen(dump_cmd, stdout=subprocess.PIPE, env=dump_env) as dump_proc:
+            with subprocess.Popen(load_cmd, stdin=dump_proc.stdout, stdout=subprocess.DEVNULL, env=load_env):
                 # Allow dump_proc to receive a SIGPIPE if the load process exits.
                 dump_proc.stdout.close()
diff --git a/django/db/backends/oracle/base.py b/django/db/backends/oracle/base.py
index 10fff26fec..781f123a82 100644
--- a/django/db/backends/oracle/base.py
+++ b/django/db/backends/oracle/base.py
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ from .features import DatabaseFeatures                      # NOQA isort:skip
 from .introspection import DatabaseIntrospection            # NOQA isort:skip
 from .operations import DatabaseOperations                  # NOQA isort:skip
 from .schema import DatabaseSchemaEditor                    # NOQA isort:skip
-from .utils import Oracle_datetime                          # NOQA isort:skip
+from .utils import dsn, Oracle_datetime                     # NOQA isort:skip
 from .validation import DatabaseValidation                  # NOQA isort:skip
 
 
@@ -218,17 +218,6 @@ class DatabaseWrapper(BaseDatabaseWrapper):
         use_returning_into = self.settings_dict["OPTIONS"].get('use_returning_into', True)
         self.features.can_return_columns_from_insert = use_returning_into
 
-    def _dsn(self):
-        settings_dict = self.settings_dict
-        if not settings_dict['HOST'].strip():
-            settings_dict['HOST'] = 'localhost'
-        if settings_dict['PORT']:
-            return Database.makedsn(settings_dict['HOST'], int(settings_dict['PORT']), settings_dict['NAME'])
-        return settings_dict['NAME']
-
-    def _connect_string(self):
-        return '%s/"%s"@%s' % (self.settings_dict['USER'], self.settings_dict['PASSWORD'], self._dsn())
-
     def get_connection_params(self):
         conn_params = self.settings_dict['OPTIONS'].copy()
         if 'use_returning_into' in conn_params:
@@ -240,7 +229,7 @@ class DatabaseWrapper(BaseDatabaseWrapper):
         return Database.connect(
             user=self.settings_dict['USER'],
             password=self.settings_dict['PASSWORD'],
-            dsn=self._dsn(),
+            dsn=dsn(self.settings_dict),
             **conn_params,
         )
 
diff --git a/django/db/backends/oracle/client.py b/django/db/backends/oracle/client.py
index 434481ba81..9920f4ca67 100644
--- a/django/db/backends/oracle/client.py
+++ b/django/db/backends/oracle/client.py
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import shutil
-import subprocess
 
 from django.db.backends.base.client import BaseDatabaseClient
 
@@ -8,11 +7,21 @@ class DatabaseClient(BaseDatabaseClient):
     executable_name = 'sqlplus'
     wrapper_name = 'rlwrap'
 
-    def runshell(self, parameters):
-        conn_string = self.connection._connect_string()
-        args = [self.executable_name, "-L", conn_string]
-        wrapper_path = shutil.which(self.wrapper_name)
+    @staticmethod
+    def connect_string(settings_dict):
+        from django.db.backends.oracle.utils import dsn
+
+        return '%s/"%s"@%s' % (
+            settings_dict['USER'],
+            settings_dict['PASSWORD'],
+            dsn(settings_dict),
+        )
+
+    @classmethod
+    def settings_to_cmd_args_env(cls, settings_dict, parameters):
+        args = [cls.executable_name, '-L', cls.connect_string(settings_dict)]
+        wrapper_path = shutil.which(cls.wrapper_name)
         if wrapper_path:
             args = [wrapper_path, *args]
         args.extend(parameters)
-        subprocess.run(args, check=True)
+        return args, None
diff --git a/django/db/backends/oracle/utils.py b/django/db/backends/oracle/utils.py
index 62285f5ee4..5665079aa2 100644
--- a/django/db/backends/oracle/utils.py
+++ b/django/db/backends/oracle/utils.py
@@ -82,3 +82,10 @@ class BulkInsertMapper:
         'TextField': CLOB,
         'TimeField': TIMESTAMP,
     }
+
+
+def dsn(settings_dict):
+    if settings_dict['PORT']:
+        host = settings_dict['HOST'].strip() or 'localhost'
+        return Database.makedsn(host, int(settings_dict['PORT']), settings_dict['NAME'])
+    return settings_dict['NAME']
diff --git a/django/db/backends/postgresql/client.py b/django/db/backends/postgresql/client.py
index 9d390b3807..7965401163 100644
--- a/django/db/backends/postgresql/client.py
+++ b/django/db/backends/postgresql/client.py
@@ -1,6 +1,4 @@
-import os
 import signal
-import subprocess
 
 from django.db.backends.base.client import BaseDatabaseClient
 
@@ -9,18 +7,19 @@ class DatabaseClient(BaseDatabaseClient):
     executable_name = 'psql'
 
     @classmethod
-    def runshell_db(cls, conn_params, parameters):
+    def settings_to_cmd_args_env(cls, settings_dict, parameters):
         args = [cls.executable_name]
+        options = settings_dict.get('OPTIONS', {})
 
-        host = conn_params.get('host', '')
-        port = conn_params.get('port', '')
-        dbname = conn_params.get('database', '')
-        user = conn_params.get('user', '')
-        passwd = conn_params.get('password', '')
-        sslmode = conn_params.get('sslmode', '')
-        sslrootcert = conn_params.get('sslrootcert', '')
-        sslcert = conn_params.get('sslcert', '')
-        sslkey = conn_params.get('sslkey', '')
+        host = settings_dict.get('HOST')
+        port = settings_dict.get('PORT')
+        dbname = settings_dict.get('NAME') or 'postgres'
+        user = settings_dict.get('USER')
+        passwd = settings_dict.get('PASSWORD')
+        sslmode = options.get('sslmode')
+        sslrootcert = options.get('sslrootcert')
+        sslcert = options.get('sslcert')
+        sslkey = options.get('sslkey')
 
         if user:
             args += ['-U', user]
@@ -31,25 +30,25 @@ class DatabaseClient(BaseDatabaseClient):
         args += [dbname]
         args.extend(parameters)
 
-        sigint_handler = signal.getsignal(signal.SIGINT)
-        subprocess_env = os.environ.copy()
+        env = {}
         if passwd:
-            subprocess_env['PGPASSWORD'] = str(passwd)
+            env['PGPASSWORD'] = str(passwd)
         if sslmode:
-            subprocess_env['PGSSLMODE'] = str(sslmode)
+            env['PGSSLMODE'] = str(sslmode)
         if sslrootcert:
-            subprocess_env['PGSSLROOTCERT'] = str(sslrootcert)
+            env['PGSSLROOTCERT'] = str(sslrootcert)
         if sslcert:
-            subprocess_env['PGSSLCERT'] = str(sslcert)
+            env['PGSSLCERT'] = str(sslcert)
         if sslkey:
-            subprocess_env['PGSSLKEY'] = str(sslkey)
+            env['PGSSLKEY'] = str(sslkey)
+        return args, env
+
+    def runshell(self, parameters):
+        sigint_handler = signal.getsignal(signal.SIGINT)
         try:
             # Allow SIGINT to pass to psql to abort queries.
             signal.signal(signal.SIGINT, signal.SIG_IGN)
-            subprocess.run(args, check=True, env=subprocess_env)
+            super().runshell(parameters)
         finally:
             # Restore the original SIGINT handler.
             signal.signal(signal.SIGINT, sigint_handler)
-
-    def runshell(self, parameters):
-        self.runshell_db(self.connection.get_connection_params(), parameters)
diff --git a/django/db/backends/sqlite3/client.py b/django/db/backends/sqlite3/client.py
index a71005fd5b..59a2fe7f50 100644
--- a/django/db/backends/sqlite3/client.py
+++ b/django/db/backends/sqlite3/client.py
@@ -1,15 +1,16 @@
-import subprocess
-
 from django.db.backends.base.client import BaseDatabaseClient
 
 
 class DatabaseClient(BaseDatabaseClient):
     executable_name = 'sqlite3'
 
-    def runshell(self, parameters):
-        # TODO: Remove str() when dropping support for PY37.
-        # args parameter accepts path-like objects on Windows since Python 3.8.
-        args = [self.executable_name,
-                str(self.connection.settings_dict['NAME'])]
-        args.extend(parameters)
-        subprocess.run(args, check=True)
+    @classmethod
+    def settings_to_cmd_args_env(cls, settings_dict, parameters):
+        args = [
+            cls.executable_name,
+            # TODO: Remove str() when dropping support for PY37. args
+            # parameter accepts path-like objects on Windows since Python 3.8.
+            str(settings_dict['NAME']),
+            *parameters,
+        ]
+        return args, None
diff --git a/docs/releases/3.2.txt b/docs/releases/3.2.txt
index c765c4ed63..ca427c3bc5 100644
--- a/docs/releases/3.2.txt
+++ b/docs/releases/3.2.txt
@@ -477,6 +477,12 @@ backends.
   ``DatabaseOperations.time_trunc_sql()`` now take the optional ``tzname``
   argument in order to truncate in a specific timezone.
 
+* ``DatabaseClient.runshell()`` now gets arguments and an optional dictionary
+  with environment variables to the underlying command-line client from
+  ``DatabaseClient.settings_to_cmd_args_env()`` method. Third-party database
+  backends must implement ``DatabaseClient.settings_to_cmd_args_env()`` or
+  override ``DatabaseClient.runshell()``.
+
 :mod:`django.contrib.admin`
 ---------------------------
 
diff --git a/tests/backends/base/test_client.py b/tests/backends/base/test_client.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4573bbe97b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/backends/base/test_client.py
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+from django.db import connection
+from django.db.backends.base.client import BaseDatabaseClient
+from django.test import SimpleTestCase
+
+
+class SimpleDatabaseClientTests(SimpleTestCase):
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.client = BaseDatabaseClient(connection=connection)
+
+    def test_settings_to_cmd_args_env(self):
+        msg = (
+            'subclasses of BaseDatabaseClient must provide a '
+            'settings_to_cmd_args_env() method or override a runshell().'
+        )
+        with self.assertRaisesMessage(NotImplementedError, msg):
+            self.client.settings_to_cmd_args_env(None, None)
diff --git a/tests/backends/mysql/test_creation.py b/tests/backends/mysql/test_creation.py
index 5675601a1b..0d3480adea 100644
--- a/tests/backends/mysql/test_creation.py
+++ b/tests/backends/mysql/test_creation.py
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@ class DatabaseCreationTests(SimpleTestCase):
                             'source_db',
                         ],
                         stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
+                        env=None,
                     ),
                 ])
         finally:
diff --git a/tests/backends/oracle/tests.py b/tests/backends/oracle/tests.py
index 0a7bf01963..258f98f5c9 100644
--- a/tests/backends/oracle/tests.py
+++ b/tests/backends/oracle/tests.py
@@ -86,7 +86,10 @@ class TransactionalTests(TransactionTestCase):
         old_password = connection.settings_dict['PASSWORD']
         connection.settings_dict['PASSWORD'] = 'p@ssword'
         try:
-            self.assertIn('/"p@ssword"@', connection._connect_string())
+            self.assertIn(
+                '/"p@ssword"@',
+                connection.client.connect_string(connection.settings_dict),
+            )
             with self.assertRaises(DatabaseError) as context:
                 connection.cursor()
             # Database exception: "ORA-01017: invalid username/password" is
diff --git a/tests/dbshell/test_mysql.py b/tests/dbshell/test_mysql.py
index e09644962b..374c466059 100644
--- a/tests/dbshell/test_mysql.py
+++ b/tests/dbshell/test_mysql.py
@@ -3,32 +3,52 @@ from django.test import SimpleTestCase
 
 
 class MySqlDbshellCommandTestCase(SimpleTestCase):
+    def settings_to_cmd_args_env(self, settings_dict, parameters=None):
+        if parameters is None:
+            parameters = []
+        return DatabaseClient.settings_to_cmd_args_env(settings_dict, parameters)
 
     def test_fails_with_keyerror_on_incomplete_config(self):
         with self.assertRaises(KeyError):
-            self.get_command_line_arguments({})
+            self.settings_to_cmd_args_env({})
 
     def test_basic_params_specified_in_settings(self):
+        expected_args = [
+            'mysql',
+            '--user=someuser',
+            '--password=somepassword',
+            '--host=somehost',
+            '--port=444',
+            'somedbname',
+        ]
+        expected_env = None
         self.assertEqual(
-            ['mysql', '--user=someuser', '--password=somepassword',
-             '--host=somehost', '--port=444', 'somedbname'],
-            self.get_command_line_arguments({
+            self.settings_to_cmd_args_env({
                 'NAME': 'somedbname',
                 'USER': 'someuser',
                 'PASSWORD': 'somepassword',
                 'HOST': 'somehost',
                 'PORT': 444,
                 'OPTIONS': {},
-            }))
+            }),
+            (expected_args, expected_env),
+        )
 
     def test_options_override_settings_proper_values(self):
         settings_port = 444
         options_port = 555
         self.assertNotEqual(settings_port, options_port, 'test pre-req')
+        expected_args = [
+            'mysql',
+            '--user=optionuser',
+            '--password=optionpassword',
+            '--host=optionhost',
+            '--port=%s' % options_port,
+            'optiondbname',
+        ]
+        expected_env = None
         self.assertEqual(
-            ['mysql', '--user=optionuser', '--password=optionpassword',
-             '--host=optionhost', '--port={}'.format(options_port), 'optiondbname'],
-            self.get_command_line_arguments({
+            self.settings_to_cmd_args_env({
                 'NAME': 'settingdbname',
                 'USER': 'settinguser',
                 'PASSWORD': 'settingpassword',
@@ -41,15 +61,22 @@ class MySqlDbshellCommandTestCase(SimpleTestCase):
                     'host': 'optionhost',
                     'port': options_port,
                 },
-            }))
+            }),
+            (expected_args, expected_env),
+        )
 
     def test_options_password(self):
+        expected_args = [
+            'mysql',
+            '--user=someuser',
+            '--password=optionpassword',
+            '--host=somehost',
+            '--port=444',
+            'somedbname',
+        ]
+        expected_env = None
         self.assertEqual(
-            [
-                'mysql', '--user=someuser', '--password=optionpassword',
-                '--host=somehost', '--port=444', 'somedbname',
-            ],
-            self.get_command_line_arguments({
+            self.settings_to_cmd_args_env({
                 'NAME': 'somedbname',
                 'USER': 'someuser',
                 'PASSWORD': 'settingpassword',
@@ -57,16 +84,22 @@ class MySqlDbshellCommandTestCase(SimpleTestCase):
                 'PORT': 444,
                 'OPTIONS': {'password': 'optionpassword'},
             }),
+            (expected_args, expected_env),
         )
 
     def test_options_charset(self):
+        expected_args = [
+            'mysql',
+            '--user=someuser',
+            '--password=somepassword',
+            '--host=somehost',
+            '--port=444',
+            '--default-character-set=utf8',
+            'somedbname',
+        ]
+        expected_env = None
         self.assertEqual(
-            [
-                'mysql', '--user=someuser', '--password=somepassword',
-                '--host=somehost', '--port=444',
-                '--default-character-set=utf8', 'somedbname',
-            ],
-            self.get_command_line_arguments({
+            self.settings_to_cmd_args_env({
                 'NAME': 'somedbname',
                 'USER': 'someuser',
                 'PASSWORD': 'somepassword',
@@ -74,27 +107,45 @@ class MySqlDbshellCommandTestCase(SimpleTestCase):
                 'PORT': 444,
                 'OPTIONS': {'charset': 'utf8'},
             }),
+            (expected_args, expected_env),
         )
 
     def test_can_connect_using_sockets(self):
+        expected_args = [
+            'mysql',
+            '--user=someuser',
+            '--password=somepassword',
+            '--socket=/path/to/mysql.socket.file',
+            'somedbname',
+        ]
+        expected_env = None
         self.assertEqual(
-            ['mysql', '--user=someuser', '--password=somepassword',
-             '--socket=/path/to/mysql.socket.file', 'somedbname'],
-            self.get_command_line_arguments({
+            self.settings_to_cmd_args_env({
                 'NAME': 'somedbname',
                 'USER': 'someuser',
                 'PASSWORD': 'somepassword',
                 'HOST': '/path/to/mysql.socket.file',
                 'PORT': None,
                 'OPTIONS': {},
-            }))
+            }),
+            (expected_args, expected_env),
+        )
 
     def test_ssl_certificate_is_added(self):
+        expected_args = [
+            'mysql',
+            '--user=someuser',
+            '--password=somepassword',
+            '--host=somehost',
+            '--port=444',
+            '--ssl-ca=sslca',
+            '--ssl-cert=sslcert',
+            '--ssl-key=sslkey',
+            'somedbname',
+        ]
+        expected_env = None
         self.assertEqual(
-            ['mysql', '--user=someuser', '--password=somepassword',
-             '--host=somehost', '--port=444', '--ssl-ca=sslca',
-             '--ssl-cert=sslcert', '--ssl-key=sslkey', 'somedbname'],
-            self.get_command_line_arguments({
+            self.settings_to_cmd_args_env({
                 'NAME': 'somedbname',
                 'USER': 'someuser',
                 'PASSWORD': 'somepassword',
@@ -107,12 +158,13 @@ class MySqlDbshellCommandTestCase(SimpleTestCase):
                         'key': 'sslkey',
                     },
                 },
-            }))
+            }),
+            (expected_args, expected_env),
+        )
 
     def test_parameters(self):
         self.assertEqual(
-            ['mysql', 'somedbname', '--help'],
-            self.get_command_line_arguments(
+            self.settings_to_cmd_args_env(
                 {
                     'NAME': 'somedbname',
                     'USER': None,
@@ -123,9 +175,5 @@ class MySqlDbshellCommandTestCase(SimpleTestCase):
                 },
                 ['--help'],
             ),
+            (['mysql', 'somedbname', '--help'], None),
         )
-
-    def get_command_line_arguments(self, connection_settings, parameters=None):
-        if parameters is None:
-            parameters = []
-        return DatabaseClient.settings_to_cmd_args(connection_settings, parameters)
diff --git a/tests/dbshell/test_oracle.py b/tests/dbshell/test_oracle.py
index 41fbc07455..34e96fb09b 100644
--- a/tests/dbshell/test_oracle.py
+++ b/tests/dbshell/test_oracle.py
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-from subprocess import CompletedProcess
 from unittest import mock, skipUnless
 
 from django.db import connection
@@ -6,37 +5,48 @@ from django.db.backends.oracle.client import DatabaseClient
 from django.test import SimpleTestCase
 
 
-@skipUnless(connection.vendor == 'oracle', 'Oracle tests')
+@skipUnless(connection.vendor == 'oracle', 'Requires cx_Oracle to be installed')
 class OracleDbshellTests(SimpleTestCase):
-    def _run_dbshell(self, rlwrap=False, parameters=None):
-        """Run runshell command and capture its arguments."""
-        def _mock_subprocess_run(*args, **kwargs):
-            self.subprocess_args = list(*args)
-            return CompletedProcess(self.subprocess_args, 0)
-
+    def settings_to_cmd_args_env(self, settings_dict, parameters=None, rlwrap=False):
         if parameters is None:
             parameters = []
-        client = DatabaseClient(connection)
-        self.subprocess_args = None
-        with mock.patch('subprocess.run', new=_mock_subprocess_run):
-            with mock.patch('shutil.which', return_value='/usr/bin/rlwrap' if rlwrap else None):
-                client.runshell(parameters)
-        return self.subprocess_args
+        with mock.patch('shutil.which', return_value='/usr/bin/rlwrap' if rlwrap else None):
+            return DatabaseClient.settings_to_cmd_args_env(settings_dict, parameters)
 
     def test_without_rlwrap(self):
+        expected_args = [
+            'sqlplus',
+            '-L',
+            connection.client.connect_string(connection.settings_dict),
+        ]
         self.assertEqual(
-            self._run_dbshell(rlwrap=False),
-            ['sqlplus', '-L', connection._connect_string()],
+            self.settings_to_cmd_args_env(connection.settings_dict, rlwrap=False),
+            (expected_args, None),
         )
 
     def test_with_rlwrap(self):
+        expected_args = [
+            '/usr/bin/rlwrap',
+            'sqlplus',
+            '-L',
+            connection.client.connect_string(connection.settings_dict),
+        ]
         self.assertEqual(
-            self._run_dbshell(rlwrap=True),
-            ['/usr/bin/rlwrap', 'sqlplus', '-L', connection._connect_string()],
+            self.settings_to_cmd_args_env(connection.settings_dict, rlwrap=True),
+            (expected_args, None),
         )
 
     def test_parameters(self):
+        expected_args = [
+            'sqlplus',
+            '-L',
+            connection.client.connect_string(connection.settings_dict),
+            '-HELP',
+        ]
         self.assertEqual(
-            self._run_dbshell(parameters=['-HELP']),
-            ['sqlplus', '-L', connection._connect_string(), '-HELP'],
+            self.settings_to_cmd_args_env(
+                connection.settings_dict,
+                parameters=['-HELP'],
+            ),
+            (expected_args, None),
         )
diff --git a/tests/dbshell/test_postgresql.py b/tests/dbshell/test_postgresql.py
index 6de60eaef2..aad9692ecb 100644
--- a/tests/dbshell/test_postgresql.py
+++ b/tests/dbshell/test_postgresql.py
@@ -1,41 +1,25 @@
-import os
 import signal
-import subprocess
-from unittest import mock
+from unittest import mock, skipUnless
 
+from django.db import connection
 from django.db.backends.postgresql.client import DatabaseClient
 from django.test import SimpleTestCase
 
 
 class PostgreSqlDbshellCommandTestCase(SimpleTestCase):
-
-    def _run_it(self, dbinfo, parameters=None):
-        """
-        That function invokes the runshell command, while mocking
-        subprocess.run(). It returns a 2-tuple with:
-        - The command line list
-        - The dictionary of PG* environment variables, or {}.
-        """
-        def _mock_subprocess_run(*args, env=os.environ, **kwargs):
-            self.subprocess_args = list(*args)
-            # PostgreSQL environment variables.
-            self.pg_env = {key: env[key] for key in env if key.startswith('PG')}
-            return subprocess.CompletedProcess(self.subprocess_args, 0)
-
+    def settings_to_cmd_args_env(self, settings_dict, parameters=None):
         if parameters is None:
             parameters = []
-        with mock.patch('subprocess.run', new=_mock_subprocess_run):
-            DatabaseClient.runshell_db(dbinfo, parameters)
-        return self.subprocess_args, self.pg_env
+        return DatabaseClient.settings_to_cmd_args_env(settings_dict, parameters)
 
     def test_basic(self):
         self.assertEqual(
-            self._run_it({
-                'database': 'dbname',
-                'user': 'someuser',
-                'password': 'somepassword',
-                'host': 'somehost',
-                'port': '444',
+            self.settings_to_cmd_args_env({
+                'NAME': 'dbname',
+                'USER': 'someuser',
+                'PASSWORD': 'somepassword',
+                'HOST': 'somehost',
+                'PORT': '444',
             }), (
                 ['psql', '-U', 'someuser', '-h', 'somehost', '-p', '444', 'dbname'],
                 {'PGPASSWORD': 'somepassword'},
@@ -44,11 +28,11 @@ class PostgreSqlDbshellCommandTestCase(SimpleTestCase):
 
     def test_nopass(self):
         self.assertEqual(
-            self._run_it({
-                'database': 'dbname',
-                'user': 'someuser',
-                'host': 'somehost',
-                'port': '444',
+            self.settings_to_cmd_args_env({
+                'NAME': 'dbname',
+                'USER': 'someuser',
+                'HOST': 'somehost',
+                'PORT': '444',
             }), (
                 ['psql', '-U', 'someuser', '-h', 'somehost', '-p', '444', 'dbname'],
                 {},
@@ -57,15 +41,17 @@ class PostgreSqlDbshellCommandTestCase(SimpleTestCase):
 
     def test_ssl_certificate(self):
         self.assertEqual(
-            self._run_it({
-                'database': 'dbname',
-                'user': 'someuser',
-                'host': 'somehost',
-                'port': '444',
-                'sslmode': 'verify-ca',
-                'sslrootcert': 'root.crt',
-                'sslcert': 'client.crt',
-                'sslkey': 'client.key',
+            self.settings_to_cmd_args_env({
+                'NAME': 'dbname',
+                'USER': 'someuser',
+                'HOST': 'somehost',
+                'PORT': '444',
+                'OPTIONS': {
+                    'sslmode': 'verify-ca',
+                    'sslrootcert': 'root.crt',
+                    'sslcert': 'client.crt',
+                    'sslkey': 'client.key',
+                },
             }), (
                 ['psql', '-U', 'someuser', '-h', 'somehost', '-p', '444', 'dbname'],
                 {
@@ -79,12 +65,12 @@ class PostgreSqlDbshellCommandTestCase(SimpleTestCase):
 
     def test_column(self):
         self.assertEqual(
-            self._run_it({
-                'database': 'dbname',
-                'user': 'some:user',
-                'password': 'some:password',
-                'host': '::1',
-                'port': '444',
+            self.settings_to_cmd_args_env({
+                'NAME': 'dbname',
+                'USER': 'some:user',
+                'PASSWORD': 'some:password',
+                'HOST': '::1',
+                'PORT': '444',
             }), (
                 ['psql', '-U', 'some:user', '-h', '::1', '-p', '444', 'dbname'],
                 {'PGPASSWORD': 'some:password'},
@@ -95,12 +81,12 @@ class PostgreSqlDbshellCommandTestCase(SimpleTestCase):
         username = 'rôle'
         password = 'sésame'
         self.assertEqual(
-            self._run_it({
-                'database': 'dbname',
-                'user': username,
-                'password': password,
-                'host': 'somehost',
-                'port': '444',
+            self.settings_to_cmd_args_env({
+                'NAME': 'dbname',
+                'USER': username,
+                'PASSWORD': password,
+                'HOST': 'somehost',
+                'PORT': '444',
             }), (
                 ['psql', '-U', username, '-h', 'somehost', '-p', '444', 'dbname'],
                 {'PGPASSWORD': password},
@@ -109,10 +95,11 @@ class PostgreSqlDbshellCommandTestCase(SimpleTestCase):
 
     def test_parameters(self):
         self.assertEqual(
-            self._run_it({'database': 'dbname'}, ['--help']),
+            self.settings_to_cmd_args_env({'NAME': 'dbname'}, ['--help']),
             (['psql', 'dbname', '--help'], {}),
         )
 
+    @skipUnless(connection.vendor == 'postgresql', 'Requires a PostgreSQL connection')
     def test_sigint_handler(self):
         """SIGINT is ignored in Python and passed to psql to abort queries."""
         def _mock_subprocess_run(*args, **kwargs):
@@ -123,6 +110,6 @@ class PostgreSqlDbshellCommandTestCase(SimpleTestCase):
         # The default handler isn't SIG_IGN.
         self.assertNotEqual(sigint_handler, signal.SIG_IGN)
         with mock.patch('subprocess.run', new=_mock_subprocess_run):
-            DatabaseClient.runshell_db({}, [])
+            connection.client.runshell([])
         # dbshell restores the original handler.
         self.assertEqual(sigint_handler, signal.getsignal(signal.SIGINT))
diff --git a/tests/dbshell/test_sqlite.py b/tests/dbshell/test_sqlite.py
index c3b2b1e28d..570230f62d 100644
--- a/tests/dbshell/test_sqlite.py
+++ b/tests/dbshell/test_sqlite.py
@@ -1,43 +1,23 @@
 from pathlib import Path
-from subprocess import CompletedProcess
-from unittest import mock, skipUnless
 
-from django.db import connection
 from django.db.backends.sqlite3.client import DatabaseClient
 from django.test import SimpleTestCase
 
 
-@skipUnless(connection.vendor == 'sqlite', 'SQLite tests.')
 class SqliteDbshellCommandTestCase(SimpleTestCase):
-    def _run_dbshell(self, parameters=None):
-        """Run runshell command and capture its arguments."""
-        def _mock_subprocess_run(*args, **kwargs):
-            self.subprocess_args = list(*args)
-            return CompletedProcess(self.subprocess_args, 0)
-
+    def settings_to_cmd_args_env(self, settings_dict, parameters=None):
         if parameters is None:
             parameters = []
-        client = DatabaseClient(connection)
-        with mock.patch('subprocess.run', new=_mock_subprocess_run):
-            client.runshell(parameters)
-        return self.subprocess_args
+        return DatabaseClient.settings_to_cmd_args_env(settings_dict, parameters)
 
     def test_path_name(self):
-        with mock.patch.dict(
-            connection.settings_dict,
-            {'NAME': Path('test.db.sqlite3')},
-        ):
-            self.assertEqual(
-                self._run_dbshell(),
-                ['sqlite3', 'test.db.sqlite3'],
-            )
+        self.assertEqual(
+            self.settings_to_cmd_args_env({'NAME': Path('test.db.sqlite3')}),
+            (['sqlite3', 'test.db.sqlite3'], None),
+        )
 
     def test_parameters(self):
-        with mock.patch.dict(
-            connection.settings_dict,
-            {'NAME': Path('test.db.sqlite3')},
-        ):
-            self.assertEqual(
-                self._run_dbshell(['-help']),
-                ['sqlite3', 'test.db.sqlite3', '-help'],
-            )
+        self.assertEqual(
+            self.settings_to_cmd_args_env({'NAME': 'test.db.sqlite3'}, ['-help']),
+            (['sqlite3', 'test.db.sqlite3', '-help'], None),
+        )