diff --git a/test/helper.py b/test/helper.py
index fb8618120..325f72f0a 100644
--- a/test/helper.py
+++ b/test/helper.py
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ class FakeYDL(YoutubeDL):
         # Different instances of the downloader can't share the same dictionary
         # some test set the "sublang" parameter, which would break the md5 checks.
         params = get_params(override=override)
-        super(FakeYDL, self).__init__(params)
+        super(FakeYDL, self).__init__(params, auto_init=False)
         self.result = []
         
     def to_screen(self, s, skip_eol=None):
diff --git a/test/test_download.py b/test/test_download.py
index 88ce29871..87aced97c 100644
--- a/test/test_download.py
+++ b/test/test_download.py
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ def generator(test_case):
             params.setdefault('extract_flat', True)
             params.setdefault('skip_download', True)
 
-        ydl = YoutubeDL(params)
+        ydl = YoutubeDL(params, auto_init=False)
         ydl.add_default_info_extractors()
         finished_hook_called = set()
         def _hook(status):