diff --git a/kolibri/core/content/test/test_public_api.py b/kolibri/core/content/test/test_public_api.py
index b625f4fdd45..62d5d7b828d 100644
--- a/kolibri/core/content/test/test_public_api.py
+++ b/kolibri/core/content/test/test_public_api.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 from le_utils.constants import content_kinds
 from rest_framework.test import APITestCase
 
+from kolibri.core.content import base_models
 from kolibri.core.content import models as content
 from kolibri.core.content.constants.schema_versions import CONTENT_SCHEMA_VERSION
 from kolibri.core.content.test.test_channel_upgrade import ChannelBuilder
@@ -40,11 +41,20 @@ def _assert_data(self, Model, queryset):
         response = self.client.get(
             reverse("kolibri:core:importmetadata-detail", kwargs={"pk": self.node.id})
         )
+        fields = Model._meta.fields
+        BaseModel = getattr(base_models, Model.__name__, Model)
+        field_names = {field.column for field in BaseModel._meta.fields}
+        if hasattr(BaseModel, "_mptt_meta"):
+            field_names.add(BaseModel._mptt_meta.parent_attr)
+            field_names.add(BaseModel._mptt_meta.tree_id_attr)
+            field_names.add(BaseModel._mptt_meta.left_attr)
+            field_names.add(BaseModel._mptt_meta.right_attr)
+            field_names.add(BaseModel._mptt_meta.level_attr)
         for response_data, obj in zip(response.data[Model._meta.db_table], queryset):
             # Ensure that we are not returning any empty objects
             self.assertNotEqual(response_data, {})
-            for field in Model._meta.fields:
-                if field.column in response_data:
+            for field in fields:
+                if field.column in field_names:
                     value = response_data[field.column]
                     if hasattr(field, "from_db_value"):
                         value = field.from_db_value(value, None, connection, None)