diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index c3177c14..9612f38b 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -118,9 +118,8 @@ def _configure_bigchaindb(request):
         test_db_name = '{}_{}'.format(TEST_DB_NAME, xdist_suffix)
 
     backend = request.config.getoption('--database-backend')
-    backend_conf = getattr(bigchaindb, '_database_' + backend)
     config = {
-        'database': backend_conf,
+        'database': bigchaindb._database_map[backend],
         'keypair': {
             'private': '31Lb1ZGKTyHnmVK3LUMrAUrPNfd4sE2YyBt3UA4A25aA',
             'public': '4XYfCbabAWVUCbjTmRTFEu2sc3dFEdkse4r6X498B1s8',
diff --git a/tests/test_config_utils.py b/tests/test_config_utils.py
index ebf630a9..7feec4c9 100644
--- a/tests/test_config_utils.py
+++ b/tests/test_config_utils.py
@@ -23,11 +23,6 @@ def test_bigchain_instance_is_initialized_when_conf_provided(request):
 
     assert bigchaindb.config['CONFIGURED'] is True
 
-    # set the current backend so that Bigchain can create a connection
-    backend = request.config.getoption('--database-backend')
-    backend_conf = getattr(bigchaindb, '_database_' + backend)
-    bigchaindb.config['database'] = backend_conf
-
     b = bigchaindb.Bigchain()
 
     assert b.me
@@ -44,11 +39,6 @@ def test_bigchain_instance_raises_when_not_configured(request, monkeypatch):
     # from existing configurations
     monkeypatch.setattr(config_utils, 'autoconfigure', lambda: 0)
 
-    # set the current backend so that Bigchain can create a connection
-    backend = request.config.getoption('--database-backend')
-    backend_conf = getattr(bigchaindb, '_database_' + backend)
-    bigchaindb.config['database'] = backend_conf
-
     with pytest.raises(exceptions.KeypairNotFoundException):
         bigchaindb.Bigchain()