diff --git a/tests/checker/__init__.py b/tests/checker/__init__.py
index 43378590..46f441d7 100644
--- a/tests/checker/__init__.py
+++ b/tests/checker/__init__.py
@@ -213,7 +213,9 @@ class LinkCheckTest (unittest.TestCase):
         if parts is not None:
             logargs['parts'] = parts
         aggregate = get_test_aggregate(confargs, logargs)
-        url_data = get_url_from(url, 0, aggregate)
+        # initial URL has recursion level zero
+        url_reclevel = 0
+        url_data = get_url_from(url, url_reclevel, aggregate)
         linkcheck.add_intern_pattern(url_data, aggregate.config)
         aggregate.urlqueue.put(url_data)
         linkcheck.director.check_urls(aggregate)