diff --git a/pytest.ini b/pytest.ini
index 43961e54e9..ebb0a6beb5 100644
--- a/pytest.ini
+++ b/pytest.ini
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ norecursedirs = .git .* static __pycache__ build
 DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE = server.tests.settings
 python_files = tests.py test_*.py *_tests.py
 testpaths = server
-addopts = -rsxX --showlocals --tb=native --nomigrations --flake8 --staticfiles --isort --cov-report term --cov-report xml --cov server
+addopts = -rsxX --showlocals --tb=native --reuse-db --nomigrations --flake8 --staticfiles --isort --cov-report term --cov-report xml --cov server
 env =
     GITHUB_CLIENT_ID=
     GITHUB_CLIENT_SECRET=
diff --git a/server/tests/conftest.py b/server/tests/conftest.py
index fd323b33eb..72dd45893b 100644
--- a/server/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/server/tests/conftest.py
@@ -1,12 +1,17 @@
 import datetime
+import logging
+import time
 
 import pytest
 from rest_framework.test import APIClient
+from spinach.contrib.spinachd.apps import spin
 
 from server.base.models import User
 from server.files.models import File, FileSource
 from server.notebooks.models import Notebook, NotebookRevision
 
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
 
 def pytest_configure(config):
     # work-around for https://github.com/ktosiek/pytest-freezegun/issues/13
@@ -16,6 +21,19 @@ def pytest_configure(config):
     )
 
 
+@pytest.fixture(scope="session", autouse=True)
+def spinach_worker(request):
+    spin.start_workers(number=1, block=False)
+    logger.info("Starting Spinach workers.")
+
+    def stop_workers():
+        spin.stop_workers()
+        logging.info("Stopping Spinach workers.")
+        time.sleep(2)
+
+    request.addfinalizer(stop_workers)
+
+
 @pytest.fixture
 def api_client():
     """