diff --git a/qubes/tests/__init__.py b/qubes/tests/__init__.py
index 7eb90532..c27b47b1 100644
--- a/qubes/tests/__init__.py
+++ b/qubes/tests/__init__.py
@@ -768,7 +768,10 @@ class BackupTestsMixin(SystemTestsMixin):
 
     def setUp(self):
         super(BackupTestsMixin, self).setUp()
-        self.init_default_template()
+        try:
+            self.init_default_template(self.template)
+        except AttributeError:
+            self.init_default_template()
         self.error_detected = multiprocessing.Queue()
         self.verbose = False