diff --git a/axes/test_settings.py b/axes/test_settings.py
index c2906f6..e5b3b16 100644
--- a/axes/test_settings.py
+++ b/axes/test_settings.py
@@ -19,6 +19,11 @@ MIDDLEWARE = (
     'django.contrib.auth.middleware.AuthenticationMiddleware',
 )
 
+AUTHENTICATION_BACKENDS = (
+    'axes.backends.AxesModelBackend',
+    'django.contrib.auth.backends.ModelBackend',
+)
+
 ROOT_URLCONF = 'axes.test_urls'
 
 INSTALLED_APPS = (
diff --git a/axes/tests/test_access_attempt.py b/axes/tests/test_access_attempt.py
index 31fbed3..dfe7952 100644
--- a/axes/tests/test_access_attempt.py
+++ b/axes/tests/test_access_attempt.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import random
 import string
 import time
 
+from django.http import HttpRequest
 from django.test import TestCase, override_settings
 from django.urls import reverse
 from django.contrib.auth import authenticate
@@ -386,6 +387,8 @@ class AccessAttemptTest(TestCase):
         ``log_user_login_failed`` should shortcircuit if an attempt to authenticate
         with a custom authentication backend fails.
         '''
-        authenticate(foo='bar')
 
+        request = HttpRequest()
+        request.user = self.user
+        authenticate(request=request, foo='bar')
         self.assertEqual(AccessLog.objects.all().count(), 0)