diff --git a/testtools/tests/test_distutilscmd.py b/testtools/tests/test_distutilscmd.py
index 8ef197c9..29c35d02 100644
--- a/testtools/tests/test_distutilscmd.py
+++ b/testtools/tests/test_distutilscmd.py
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ def setUp(self):
     def test_test_module(self):
         self.useFixture(SampleTestFixture())
         stdout = self.useFixture(fixtures.StringStream('stdout'))
-        dist = Distribution()
+        dist = Distribution(attrs={ 'packages': ['testtools'] })
         dist.script_name = 'setup.py'
         dist.script_args = ['test']
         dist.cmdclass = {'test': TestCommand}
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ def test_test_module(self):
     def test_test_suite(self):
         self.useFixture(SampleTestFixture())
         stdout = self.useFixture(fixtures.StringStream('stdout'))
-        dist = Distribution()
+        dist = Distribution(attrs={ 'packages': ['testtools'] })
         dist.script_name = 'setup.py'
         dist.script_args = ['test']
         dist.cmdclass = {'test': TestCommand}