diff --git a/tests/__init__.py b/tests/__init__.py
index 40d8071f..7dec63f0 100644
--- a/tests/__init__.py
+++ b/tests/__init__.py
@@ -12,6 +12,9 @@ class TestCase(unittest.TestCase):
 
     def setUp(self):
         self.config = testing.setUp()
+        # TODO: this probably shouldn't (need to) be here
+        self.config.add_directive('add_tailbone_permission_group', 'tailbone.auth.add_permission_group')
+        self.config.add_directive('add_tailbone_permission', 'tailbone.auth.add_permission')
 
     def tearDown(self):
         testing.tearDown()