diff --git a/rhodecode/tests/plugin.py b/rhodecode/tests/plugin.py
--- a/rhodecode/tests/plugin.py
+++ b/rhodecode/tests/plugin.py
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ def app(request, pylonsapp, http_environ
     return app
 
 
-@pytest.fixture()
+@pytest.fixture(scope='session')
 def app_settings(pylonsapp, pylons_config):
     """
     Settings dictionary used to create the app.
@@ -234,6 +234,18 @@ def app_settings(pylonsapp, pylons_confi
     return settings
 
 
+@pytest.fixture(scope='session')
+def db(app_settings):
+    """
+    Initializes the database connection.
+
+    It uses the same settings which are used to create the ``pylonsapp`` or
+    ``app`` fixtures.
+    """
+    from rhodecode.config.utils import initialize_database
+    initialize_database(app_settings)
+
+
 LoginData = collections.namedtuple('LoginData', ('csrf_token', 'user'))