diff --git a/test/test_circle.py b/test/test_circle.py
index 4a31342..e7524fa 100644
--- a/test/test_circle.py
+++ b/test/test_circle.py
@@ -5,6 +5,12 @@ import time
 from typing import List
 import unittest
 
+from test.testing_common import (
+    test_graphs_paths,
+    SLEEP_SEC_AFTER_REBALANCING,
+    TestNetwork,
+)
+
 from lndmanage.lib.listings import ListChannels
 from lndmanage.lib.rebalance import Rebalancer
 from lndmanage.lib.exceptions import (
@@ -15,12 +21,6 @@ from lndmanage.lib.exceptions import (
     OurNodeFailure,
 )
 
-from test.testing_common import (
-    test_graphs_paths,
-    SLEEP_SEC_AFTER_REBALANCING,
-    TestNetwork,
-)
-
 from lndmanage import settings  # needed for side effect configuration
 
 
diff --git a/test/test_fee_setting.py b/test/test_fee_setting.py
index e183363..b9ddf15 100644
--- a/test/test_fee_setting.py
+++ b/test/test_fee_setting.py
@@ -2,9 +2,9 @@ from unittest import TestCase
 import sys
 import logging
 
-from lndmanage.lib.fee_setting import delta_demand, delta_min, optimization_parameters
+from test import testing_common
 
-import testing_common
+from lndmanage.lib.fee_setting import delta_demand, delta_min, optimization_parameters
 
 testing_common.logger.addHandler(logging.StreamHandler(sys.stdout))
 
diff --git a/test/test_openchannels.py b/test/test_openchannels.py
index 93b43ab..11ccb5c 100644
--- a/test/test_openchannels.py
+++ b/test/test_openchannels.py
@@ -3,13 +3,13 @@ import asyncio
 import time
 from unittest import TestCase
 
-from lndmanage.lib import openchannels
-
 from test.testing_common import (
     test_graphs_paths,
     TestNetwork,
 )
 
+from lndmanage.lib import openchannels
+
 
 def confirm_transactions(testnet):
     for _ in range(6):
diff --git a/test/test_rebalance.py b/test/test_rebalance.py
index 2df73e3..4d4b725 100644
--- a/test/test_rebalance.py
+++ b/test/test_rebalance.py
@@ -3,16 +3,16 @@ import asyncio
 import time
 from typing import Optional
 
-from lndmanage.lib.rebalance import Rebalancer
-from lndmanage.lib.ln_utilities import local_balance_to_unbalancedness
-from lndmanage.lib.exceptions import NoRebalanceCandidates
-
 from test.testing_common import (
     test_graphs_paths,
     SLEEP_SEC_AFTER_REBALANCING,
     TestNetwork
 )
 
+from lndmanage.lib.rebalance import Rebalancer
+from lndmanage.lib.ln_utilities import local_balance_to_unbalancedness
+from lndmanage.lib.exceptions import NoRebalanceCandidates
+
 
 class RebalanceTest(TestNetwork):
     """
diff --git a/test/testing_common.py b/test/testing_common.py
index be8fc24..01e2e41 100644
--- a/test/testing_common.py
+++ b/test/testing_common.py
@@ -3,6 +3,21 @@ import os
 import shutil
 from unittest import TestCase
 
+# testing base folder
+test_dir = os.path.dirname(os.path.realpath(__file__))
+bin_dir = os.path.join(test_dir, 'bin')
+graph_definitions_dir = os.path.join(test_dir, 'graph_definitions')
+test_data_dir = os.path.join(test_dir, 'test_data')
+
+# set lndmanage_home path to be in the test_data folder and make sure the
+# directory exists
+lndmanage_home = os.path.join(test_data_dir, 'lndmanage')
+os.makedirs(lndmanage_home, exist_ok=True)
+
+# create empty config and set env var to not trigger error when importing settings
+open(os.path.join(lndmanage_home, 'config.ini'), 'a').close()
+os.environ.setdefault('LNDMANAGE_HOME', lndmanage_home)
+
 from lnregtest.lib.network import Network
 
 from lndmanage.lib.node import LndNode
@@ -17,17 +32,6 @@ settings.CACHING_RETENTION_MINUTES = 0
 # constants for testing
 SLEEP_SEC_AFTER_REBALANCING = 2
 
-# testing base folder
-test_dir = os.path.dirname(os.path.realpath(__file__))
-bin_dir = os.path.join(test_dir, 'bin')
-graph_definitions_dir = os.path.join(test_dir, 'graph_definitions')
-test_data_dir = os.path.join(test_dir, 'test_data')
-
-# set lndmanage_home path to be in the test_data folder and make sure the
-# folder exists
-lndmanage_home = os.path.join(test_data_dir, 'lndmanage')
-os.makedirs(lndmanage_home, exist_ok=True)
-
 test_graphs_paths = {
     'star_ring_3_liquid': os.path.join(
         graph_definitions_dir, 'star_ring_3_liquid.py'),