diff --git a/tests/Orm/Component/TestTest.php b/tests/Orm/Component/TestTest.php
index 19e666e41..18c236d36 100644
--- a/tests/Orm/Component/TestTest.php
+++ b/tests/Orm/Component/TestTest.php
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ class Orm_Component_TestTest extends Doctrine_OrmTestCase
 {
     protected function setUp()
     {
+        parent::setUp();
         $this->loadFixture('forum', 'common', 'users');
     }
     
diff --git a/tests/lib/Doctrine_DbalTestSuite.php b/tests/lib/Doctrine_DbalTestSuite.php
index 6eb92ce6f..a9996c237 100644
--- a/tests/lib/Doctrine_DbalTestSuite.php
+++ b/tests/lib/Doctrine_DbalTestSuite.php
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ class Doctrine_DbalTestSuite extends Doctrine_TestSuite
     
     protected function setUp()
     {
+        // @todo Make DBMS choice configurable
         $pdo = new PDO('sqlite::memory:');
         $this->sharedFixture['connection'] = $this->loadConnection($pdo, 'sqlite_memory');
     }
diff --git a/tests/lib/Doctrine_OrmTestCase.php b/tests/lib/Doctrine_OrmTestCase.php
index 1c19eabb1..f854043fd 100644
--- a/tests/lib/Doctrine_OrmTestCase.php
+++ b/tests/lib/Doctrine_OrmTestCase.php
@@ -22,6 +22,20 @@ class Doctrine_OrmTestCase extends Doctrine_TestCase
      */
     private static $_exportedTables = array();
     
+    /**
+     * setUp()
+     */
+    protected function setUp()
+    {
+        // Setup a db connection if there is none, yet. This makes it possible
+        // to run tests that use a connection standalone.
+        // @todo Make DBMS choice configurable
+        if ( ! isset($this->sharedFixture['connection'])) {
+            $pdo = new PDO('sqlite::memory:');
+            $this->sharedFixture['connection'] = Doctrine_Manager::connection($pdo, 'sqlite_memory');
+        }
+    }
+    
     /**
      * Loads a data fixture into the database. This method must only be called
      * from within the setUp() method of testcases. The database will then be
diff --git a/tests/lib/Doctrine_OrmTestSuite.php b/tests/lib/Doctrine_OrmTestSuite.php
index 4c047d6cd..d3cb7968f 100644
--- a/tests/lib/Doctrine_OrmTestSuite.php
+++ b/tests/lib/Doctrine_OrmTestSuite.php
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ class Doctrine_OrmTestSuite extends Doctrine_TestSuite
 {
     protected function setUp()
     {
+        // @todo Make DBMS choice configurable
         $pdo = new PDO('sqlite::memory:');
         $this->sharedFixture['connection'] = $this->loadConnection($pdo, 'sqlite_memory');
     }