diff --git a/nbgrader/tests/preprocessors/test_instantiatetests.py b/nbgrader/tests/preprocessors/test_instantiatetests.py
index 1b714ed5b..8dc78a75a 100644
--- a/nbgrader/tests/preprocessors/test_instantiatetests.py
+++ b/nbgrader/tests/preprocessors/test_instantiatetests.py
@@ -111,6 +111,11 @@ def test_kernel_right_workingdir(self, preprocessor, caplog):
     # test that autotest starts a kernel that uses the `path` metadata as working directory
     # without the right path, the kernel should report an error
     def test_kernel_wrong_workingdir(self, preprocessor, caplog):
+        sol_cell = create_autotest_solution_cell()
+        test_cell = create_autotest_test_cell()
+        load_cell = create_file_loader_cell('grades.csv')
+        test_cell.metadata['nbgrader'] = {'grade': True}
+
         nb = new_notebook()
         nb.metadata['kernelspec'] = {
             "name": "python3"