diff --git a/beets/test/helper.py b/beets/test/helper.py
index 241213ce4..c64998174 100644
--- a/beets/test/helper.py
+++ b/beets/test/helper.py
@@ -225,6 +225,7 @@ class TestHelper(_common.Assertions):
         sure you call ``unload_plugins()`` afterwards.
         """
         # FIXME this should eventually be handled by a plugin manager
+        plugins = (self.plugin,) if hasattr(self, "plugin") else plugins
         beets.config["plugins"] = plugins
         beets.plugins.load_plugins(plugins)
         beets.plugins.find_plugins()
@@ -242,7 +243,7 @@ class TestHelper(_common.Assertions):
         Album._queries.update(beets.plugins.named_queries(Album))
 
     def unload_plugins(self):
-        """Unload all plugins and remove the from the configuration."""
+        """Unload all plugins and remove them from the configuration."""
         # FIXME this should eventually be handled by a plugin manager
         beets.config["plugins"] = []
         beets.plugins._classes = set()
@@ -532,6 +533,22 @@ class ItemInDBTestCase(BeetsTestCase):
         self.i = _common.item(self.lib)
 
 
+class PluginMixin:
+    plugin: ClassVar[str]
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        super().setUp()
+        self.load_plugins()
+
+    def tearDown(self):
+        super().tearDown()
+        self.unload_plugins()
+
+
+class PluginTestCase(PluginMixin, BeetsTestCase):
+    pass
+
+
 class ImportHelper:
     """Provides tools to setup a library, a directory containing files that are
     to be imported and an import session. The class also provides stubs for the
diff --git a/test/plugins/test_albumtypes.py b/test/plugins/test_albumtypes.py
index e436f5aae..a6dfafe65 100644
--- a/test/plugins/test_albumtypes.py
+++ b/test/plugins/test_albumtypes.py
@@ -18,22 +18,13 @@
 from typing import Sequence, Tuple
 
 from beets.autotag.mb import VARIOUS_ARTISTS_ID
-from beets.test.helper import BeetsTestCase
+from beets.test.helper import PluginTestCase
 from beetsplug.albumtypes import AlbumTypesPlugin
 
 
-class AlbumTypesPluginTest(BeetsTestCase):
+class AlbumTypesPluginTest(PluginTestCase):
     """Tests for albumtypes plugin."""
-
-    def setUp(self):
-        """Set up tests."""
-        super().setUp()
-        self.load_plugins("albumtypes")
-
-    def tearDown(self):
-        """Tear down tests."""
-        self.unload_plugins()
-        super().tearDown()
+    plugin = "albumtypes"
 
     def test_renames_types(self):
         """Tests if the plugin correctly renames the specified types."""
diff --git a/test/plugins/test_bareasc.py b/test/plugins/test_bareasc.py
index b3833df3d..61c600bad 100644
--- a/test/plugins/test_bareasc.py
+++ b/test/plugins/test_bareasc.py
@@ -6,18 +6,18 @@
 import unittest
 
 from beets import logging
-from beets.test.helper import BeetsTestCase, capture_stdout
+from beets.test.helper import PluginTestCase, capture_stdout
 
 
-class BareascPluginTest(BeetsTestCase):
+class BareascPluginTest(PluginTestCase):
     """Test bare ASCII query matching."""
+    plugin = "bareasc"
 
     def setUp(self):
         """Set up test environment for bare ASCII query matching."""
         super().setUp()
         self.log = logging.getLogger("beets.web")
         self.config["bareasc"]["prefix"] = "#"
-        self.load_plugins("bareasc")
 
         # Add library elements. Note that self.lib.add overrides any "id=<n>"
         # and assigns the next free id number.
diff --git a/test/plugins/test_beatport.py b/test/plugins/test_beatport.py
index 6a4cc5216..5e5130a5d 100644
--- a/test/plugins/test_beatport.py
+++ b/test/plugins/test_beatport.py
@@ -450,7 +450,6 @@ class BeatportTest(BeetsTestCase):
 
     def setUp(self):
         super().setUp()
-        self.load_plugins("beatport")
 
         # Set up 'album'.
         response_release = self._make_release_response()
@@ -466,10 +465,6 @@ class BeatportTest(BeetsTestCase):
         # Set up 'test_tracks'
         self.test_tracks = self.test_album.items()
 
-    def tearDown(self):
-        self.unload_plugins()
-        super().tearDown()
-
     def mk_test_album(self):
         items = [_common.item() for _ in range(6)]
         for item in items:
@@ -627,7 +622,6 @@ class BeatportResponseEmptyTest(BeetsTestCase):
 
     def setUp(self):
         super().setUp()
-        self.load_plugins("beatport")
 
         # Set up 'tracks'.
         self.response_tracks = self._make_tracks_response()
@@ -636,10 +630,6 @@ class BeatportResponseEmptyTest(BeetsTestCase):
         # Make alias to be congruent with class `BeatportTest`.
         self.test_tracks = self.response_tracks
 
-    def tearDown(self):
-        self.unload_plugins()
-        super().tearDown()
-
     def test_response_tracks_empty(self):
         response_tracks = []
         tracks = [beatport.BeatportTrack(t) for t in response_tracks]
diff --git a/test/plugins/test_convert.py b/test/plugins/test_convert.py
index c15462a5b..1b864499a 100644
--- a/test/plugins/test_convert.py
+++ b/test/plugins/test_convert.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ from mediafile import MediaFile
 
 from beets import util
 from beets.test import _common
-from beets.test.helper import BeetsTestCase, capture_log, control_stdin
+from beets.test.helper import PluginTestCase, capture_log, control_stdin
 from beets.util import bytestring_path, displayable_path
 
 
@@ -84,8 +84,9 @@ class ConvertMixin:
             )
 
 
-class ConvertTestCase(BeetsTestCase, ConvertMixin):
+class ConvertTestCase(ConvertMixin, PluginTestCase):
     db_on_disk = True
+    plugin = "convert"
 
 
 @_common.slow_test()
@@ -93,7 +94,6 @@ class ImportConvertTest(ConvertTestCase):
     def setUp(self):
         super().setUp()
         self.importer = self.create_importer()
-        self.load_plugins("convert")
 
         self.config["convert"] = {
             "dest": os.path.join(self.temp_dir, b"convert"),
@@ -104,10 +104,6 @@ class ImportConvertTest(ConvertTestCase):
             "quiet": False,
         }
 
-    def tearDown(self):
-        self.unload_plugins()
-        super().tearDown()
-
     def test_import_converted(self):
         self.importer.run()
         item = self.lib.items().get()
@@ -172,7 +168,6 @@ class ConvertCliTest(ConvertTestCase, ConvertCommand):
         super().setUp()
         self.album = self.add_album_fixture(ext="ogg")
         self.item = self.album.items()[0]
-        self.load_plugins("convert")
 
         self.convert_dest = bytestring_path(
             os.path.join(self.temp_dir, b"convert_dest")
@@ -191,10 +186,6 @@ class ConvertCliTest(ConvertTestCase, ConvertCommand):
             },
         }
 
-    def tearDown(self):
-        self.unload_plugins()
-        super().tearDown()
-
     def test_convert(self):
         with control_stdin("y"):
             self.run_convert()
@@ -319,7 +310,6 @@ class NeverConvertLossyFilesTest(ConvertTestCase, ConvertCommand):
 
     def setUp(self):
         super().setUp()
-        self.load_plugins("convert")
 
         self.convert_dest = os.path.join(self.temp_dir, b"convert_dest")
         self.config["convert"] = {
@@ -332,10 +322,6 @@ class NeverConvertLossyFilesTest(ConvertTestCase, ConvertCommand):
             },
         }
 
-    def tearDown(self):
-        self.unload_plugins()
-        super().tearDown()
-
     def test_transcode_from_lossless(self):
         [item] = self.add_item_fixtures(ext="flac")
         with control_stdin("y"):
diff --git a/test/plugins/test_edit.py b/test/plugins/test_edit.py
index c9bd85466..8244704d0 100644
--- a/test/plugins/test_edit.py
+++ b/test/plugins/test_edit.py
@@ -21,8 +21,8 @@ from beets.library import Item
 from beets.test import _common
 from beets.test.helper import (
     AutotagStub,
-    BeetsTestCase,
     ImportTestCase,
+    PluginTestCase,
     TerminalImportMixin,
     control_stdin,
 )
@@ -73,9 +73,11 @@ class ModifyFileMocker:
             f.write(contents)
 
 
-class EditMixin:
+class EditMixin(PluginTestCase):
     """Helper containing some common functionality used for the Edit tests."""
 
+    plugin = "edit"
+
     def assertItemFieldsModified(  # noqa
         self, library_items, items, fields=[], allowed=["path"]
     ):
@@ -115,7 +117,7 @@ class EditMixin:
 
 @_common.slow_test()
 @patch("beets.library.Item.write")
-class EditCommandTest(BeetsTestCase, EditMixin):
+class EditCommandTest(EditMixin):
     """Black box tests for `beetsplug.edit`. Command line interaction is
     simulated using `test.helper.control_stdin()`, and yaml editing via an
     external editor is simulated using `ModifyFileMocker`.
@@ -126,7 +128,6 @@ class EditCommandTest(BeetsTestCase, EditMixin):
 
     def setUp(self):
         super().setUp()
-        self.load_plugins("edit")
         # Add an album, storing the original fields for comparison.
         self.album = self.add_album_fixture(track_count=self.TRACK_COUNT)
         self.album_orig = {f: self.album[f] for f in self.album._fields}
@@ -137,7 +138,6 @@ class EditCommandTest(BeetsTestCase, EditMixin):
     def tearDown(self):
         EditPlugin.listeners = None
         super().tearDown()
-        self.unload_plugins()
 
     def assertCounts(  # noqa
         self,
@@ -331,7 +331,6 @@ class EditDuringImporterTestCase(
 
     def setUp(self):
         super().setUp()
-        self.load_plugins("edit")
         # Create some mediafiles, and store them for comparison.
         self._create_import_dir(3)
         self.items_orig = [Item.from_path(f.path) for f in self.media_files]
@@ -341,7 +340,6 @@ class EditDuringImporterTestCase(
 
     def tearDown(self):
         EditPlugin.listeners = None
-        self.unload_plugins()
         super().tearDown()
         self.matcher.restore()
 
diff --git a/test/plugins/test_embedart.py b/test/plugins/test_embedart.py
index c696ae85d..a58cd2f28 100644
--- a/test/plugins/test_embedart.py
+++ b/test/plugins/test_embedart.py
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ from mediafile import MediaFile
 
 from beets import art, config, logging, ui
 from beets.test import _common
-from beets.test.helper import BeetsTestCase, FetchImageHelper
+from beets.test.helper import BeetsTestCase, FetchImageHelper, PluginMixin
 from beets.util import bytestring_path, displayable_path, syspath
 from beets.util.artresizer import ArtResizer
 
@@ -40,7 +40,8 @@ def require_artresizer_compare(test):
     return wrapper
 
 
-class EmbedartCliTest(FetchImageHelper, BeetsTestCase):
+class EmbedartCliTest(PluginMixin, FetchImageHelper, BeetsTestCase):
+    plugin = "embedart"
     small_artpath = os.path.join(_common.RSRC, b"image-2x3.jpg")
     abbey_artpath = os.path.join(_common.RSRC, b"abbey.jpg")
     abbey_similarpath = os.path.join(_common.RSRC, b"abbey-similar.jpg")
@@ -49,7 +50,6 @@ class EmbedartCliTest(FetchImageHelper, BeetsTestCase):
     def setUp(self):
         super().setUp()  # Converter is threaded
         self.io.install()
-        self.load_plugins("embedart")
 
     def _setup_data(self, artpath=None):
         if not artpath:
@@ -57,10 +57,6 @@ class EmbedartCliTest(FetchImageHelper, BeetsTestCase):
         with open(syspath(artpath), "rb") as f:
             self.image_data = f.read()
 
-    def tearDown(self):
-        self.unload_plugins()
-        super().tearDown()
-
     def test_embed_art_from_file_with_yes_input(self):
         self._setup_data()
         album = self.add_album_fixture()
diff --git a/test/plugins/test_embyupdate.py b/test/plugins/test_embyupdate.py
index d79c01a65..fe5fc6a81 100644
--- a/test/plugins/test_embyupdate.py
+++ b/test/plugins/test_embyupdate.py
@@ -2,14 +2,15 @@ import unittest
 
 import responses
 
-from beets.test.helper import BeetsTestCase
+from beets.test.helper import PluginTestCase
 from beetsplug import embyupdate
 
 
-class EmbyUpdateTest(BeetsTestCase):
+class EmbyUpdateTest(PluginTestCase):
+    plugin = "embyupdate"
+
     def setUp(self):
         super().setUp()
-        self.load_plugins("embyupdate")
 
         self.config["emby"] = {
             "host": "localhost",
@@ -18,10 +19,6 @@ class EmbyUpdateTest(BeetsTestCase):
             "password": "password",
         }
 
-    def tearDown(self):
-        super().tearDown()
-        self.unload_plugins()
-
     def test_api_url_only_name(self):
         self.assertEqual(
             embyupdate.api_url(
diff --git a/test/plugins/test_export.py b/test/plugins/test_export.py
index acf76d48b..32d51a512 100644
--- a/test/plugins/test_export.py
+++ b/test/plugins/test_export.py
@@ -22,19 +22,16 @@ import unittest
 from xml.etree import ElementTree
 from xml.etree.ElementTree import Element
 
-from beets.test.helper import BeetsTestCase
+from beets.test.helper import PluginTestCase
 
 
-class ExportPluginTest(BeetsTestCase):
+class ExportPluginTest(PluginTestCase):
+    plugin = "export"
+
     def setUp(self):
         super().setUp()
-        self.load_plugins("export")
         self.test_values = {"title": "xtitle", "album": "xalbum"}
 
-    def tearDown(self):
-        self.unload_plugins()
-        super().tearDown()
-
     def execute_command(self, format_type, artist):
         query = ",".join(self.test_values.keys())
         out = self.run_with_output(
diff --git a/test/plugins/test_fetchart.py b/test/plugins/test_fetchart.py
index ae1fcb96a..c64c6f63c 100644
--- a/test/plugins/test_fetchart.py
+++ b/test/plugins/test_fetchart.py
@@ -19,22 +19,19 @@ import sys
 import unittest
 
 from beets import util
-from beets.test.helper import BeetsTestCase
+from beets.test.helper import PluginTestCase
 
 
-class FetchartCliTest(BeetsTestCase):
+class FetchartCliTest(PluginTestCase):
+    plugin = "fetchart"
+
     def setUp(self):
         super().setUp()
-        self.load_plugins("fetchart")
         self.config["fetchart"]["cover_names"] = "c\xc3\xb6ver.jpg"
         self.config["art_filename"] = "mycover"
         self.album = self.add_album()
         self.cover_path = os.path.join(self.album.path, b"mycover.jpg")
 
-    def tearDown(self):
-        self.unload_plugins()
-        super().tearDown()
-
     def check_cover_is_stored(self):
         self.assertEqual(self.album["artpath"], self.cover_path)
         with open(util.syspath(self.cover_path)) as f:
diff --git a/test/plugins/test_ftintitle.py b/test/plugins/test_ftintitle.py
index 32c8e0e02..56a880b0b 100644
--- a/test/plugins/test_ftintitle.py
+++ b/test/plugins/test_ftintitle.py
@@ -17,19 +17,12 @@
 
 import unittest
 
-from beets.test.helper import BeetsTestCase
+from beets.test.helper import PluginTestCase
 from beetsplug import ftintitle
 
 
-class FtInTitlePluginFunctional(BeetsTestCase):
-    def setUp(self):
-        """Set up configuration"""
-        super().setUp()
-        self.load_plugins("ftintitle")
-
-    def tearDown(self):
-        self.unload_plugins()
-        super().tearDown()
+class FtInTitlePluginFunctional(PluginTestCase):
+    plugin = "ftintitle"
 
     def _ft_add_item(self, path, artist, title, aartist):
         return self.add_item(
diff --git a/test/plugins/test_importadded.py b/test/plugins/test_importadded.py
index b41b91eee..ea50e87cd 100644
--- a/test/plugins/test_importadded.py
+++ b/test/plugins/test_importadded.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ import os
 import unittest
 
 from beets import importer
-from beets.test.helper import AutotagStub, ImportTestCase
+from beets.test.helper import AutotagStub, ImportTestCase, PluginMixin
 from beets.util import displayable_path, syspath
 from beetsplug.importadded import ImportAddedPlugin
 
@@ -40,14 +40,14 @@ def modify_mtimes(paths, offset=-60000):
         os.utime(syspath(path), (mstat.st_atime, mstat.st_mtime + offset * i))
 
 
-class ImportAddedTest(ImportTestCase):
+class ImportAddedTest(PluginMixin, ImportTestCase):
     # The minimum mtime of the files to be imported
+    plugin = "importadded"
     min_mtime = None
 
     def setUp(self):
         preserve_plugin_listeners()
         super().setUp()
-        self.load_plugins("importadded")
         self._create_import_dir(2)
         # Different mtimes on the files to be imported in order to test the
         # plugin
@@ -61,7 +61,6 @@ class ImportAddedTest(ImportTestCase):
         self.importer.add_choice(importer.action.APPLY)
 
     def tearDown(self):
-        self.unload_plugins()
         super().tearDown()
         self.matcher.restore()
 
diff --git a/test/plugins/test_info.py b/test/plugins/test_info.py
index 4ab8aa70c..7b2969264 100644
--- a/test/plugins/test_info.py
+++ b/test/plugins/test_info.py
@@ -17,18 +17,12 @@ import unittest
 
 from mediafile import MediaFile
 
-from beets.test.helper import BeetsTestCase
+from beets.test.helper import PluginTestCase
 from beets.util import displayable_path
 
 
-class InfoTest(BeetsTestCase):
-    def setUp(self):
-        super().setUp()
-        self.load_plugins("info")
-
-    def tearDown(self):
-        self.unload_plugins()
-        super().tearDown()
+class InfoTest(PluginTestCase):
+    plugin = "info"
 
     def test_path(self):
         path = self.create_mediafile_fixture()
diff --git a/test/plugins/test_ipfs.py b/test/plugins/test_ipfs.py
index 928b193f3..5924c1923 100644
--- a/test/plugins/test_ipfs.py
+++ b/test/plugins/test_ipfs.py
@@ -17,20 +17,14 @@ import unittest
 from unittest.mock import Mock, patch
 
 from beets.test import _common
-from beets.test.helper import BeetsTestCase
+from beets.test.helper import PluginTestCase
 from beets.util import _fsencoding, bytestring_path
 from beetsplug.ipfs import IPFSPlugin
 
 
 @patch("beets.util.command_output", Mock())
-class IPFSPluginTest(BeetsTestCase):
-    def setUp(self):
-        super().setUp()
-        self.load_plugins("ipfs")
-
-    def tearDown(self):
-        self.unload_plugins()
-        super().tearDown()
+class IPFSPluginTest(PluginTestCase):
+    plugin = "ipfs"
 
     def test_stored_hashes(self):
         test_album = self.mk_test_album()
diff --git a/test/plugins/test_keyfinder.py b/test/plugins/test_keyfinder.py
index dfd35f61f..9afafe822 100644
--- a/test/plugins/test_keyfinder.py
+++ b/test/plugins/test_keyfinder.py
@@ -18,18 +18,12 @@ from unittest.mock import patch
 
 from beets import util
 from beets.library import Item
-from beets.test.helper import BeetsTestCase
+from beets.test.helper import PluginTestCase
 
 
 @patch("beets.util.command_output")
-class KeyFinderTest(BeetsTestCase):
-    def setUp(self):
-        super().setUp()
-        self.load_plugins("keyfinder")
-
-    def tearDown(self):
-        super().tearDown()
-        self.unload_plugins()
+class KeyFinderTest(PluginTestCase):
+    plugin = "keyfinder"
 
     def test_add_key(self, command_output):
         item = Item(path="/file")
diff --git a/test/plugins/test_limit.py b/test/plugins/test_limit.py
index 2c01dca76..f65607586 100644
--- a/test/plugins/test_limit.py
+++ b/test/plugins/test_limit.py
@@ -15,18 +15,19 @@
 
 import unittest
 
-from beets.test.helper import BeetsTestCase
+from beets.test.helper import PluginTestCase
 
 
-class LimitPluginTest(BeetsTestCase):
+class LimitPluginTest(PluginTestCase):
     """Unit tests for LimitPlugin
 
     Note: query prefix tests do not work correctly with `run_with_output`.
     """
 
+    plugin = "limit"
+
     def setUp(self):
         super().setUp()
-        self.load_plugins("limit")
 
         # we'll create an even number of tracks in the library
         self.num_test_items = 10
@@ -46,10 +47,6 @@ class LimitPluginTest(BeetsTestCase):
         self.track_head_range = "track:.." + str(self.num_limit)
         self.track_tail_range = "track:" + str(self.num_limit + 1) + ".."
 
-    def tearDown(self):
-        self.unload_plugins()
-        super().tearDown()
-
     def test_no_limit(self):
         """Returns all when there is no limit or filter."""
         result = self.run_with_output("lslimit")
diff --git a/test/plugins/test_mbsubmit.py b/test/plugins/test_mbsubmit.py
index f82f8c851..e8774d610 100644
--- a/test/plugins/test_mbsubmit.py
+++ b/test/plugins/test_mbsubmit.py
@@ -18,22 +18,23 @@ import unittest
 from beets.test.helper import (
     AutotagStub,
     ImportTestCase,
+    PluginMixin,
     TerminalImportMixin,
     capture_stdout,
     control_stdin,
 )
 
 
-class MBSubmitPluginTest(TerminalImportMixin, ImportTestCase):
+class MBSubmitPluginTest(PluginMixin, TerminalImportMixin, ImportTestCase):
+    plugin = "mbsubmit"
+
     def setUp(self):
         super().setUp()
-        self.load_plugins("mbsubmit")
         self._create_import_dir(2)
         self._setup_import_session()
         self.matcher = AutotagStub().install()
 
     def tearDown(self):
-        self.unload_plugins()
         super().tearDown()
         self.matcher.restore()
 
diff --git a/test/plugins/test_mbsync.py b/test/plugins/test_mbsync.py
index 62c08f685..538c372f6 100644
--- a/test/plugins/test_mbsync.py
+++ b/test/plugins/test_mbsync.py
@@ -19,21 +19,15 @@ from unittest.mock import patch
 from beets import config
 from beets.library import Item
 from beets.test.helper import (
-    BeetsTestCase,
+    PluginTestCase,
     capture_log,
     generate_album_info,
     generate_track_info,
 )
 
 
-class MbsyncCliTest(BeetsTestCase):
-    def setUp(self):
-        super().setUp()
-        self.load_plugins("mbsync")
-
-    def tearDown(self):
-        self.unload_plugins()
-        super().tearDown()
+class MbsyncCliTest(PluginTestCase):
+    plugin = "mbsync"
 
     @patch("beets.autotag.mb.album_for_id")
     @patch("beets.autotag.mb.track_for_id")
diff --git a/test/plugins/test_mpdstats.py b/test/plugins/test_mpdstats.py
index e60a32f4f..a0e00325d 100644
--- a/test/plugins/test_mpdstats.py
+++ b/test/plugins/test_mpdstats.py
@@ -18,18 +18,12 @@ from unittest.mock import ANY, Mock, call, patch
 
 from beets import util
 from beets.library import Item
-from beets.test.helper import BeetsTestCase
+from beets.test.helper import PluginTestCase
 from beetsplug.mpdstats import MPDStats
 
 
-class MPDStatsTest(BeetsTestCase):
-    def setUp(self):
-        super().setUp()
-        self.load_plugins("mpdstats")
-
-    def tearDown(self):
-        super().tearDown()
-        self.unload_plugins()
+class MPDStatsTest(PluginTestCase):
+    plugin = "mpdstats"
 
     def test_update_rating(self):
         item = Item(title="title", path="", id=1)
diff --git a/test/plugins/test_parentwork.py b/test/plugins/test_parentwork.py
index fedcc6ceb..b1fd7e669 100644
--- a/test/plugins/test_parentwork.py
+++ b/test/plugins/test_parentwork.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ import unittest
 from unittest.mock import patch
 
 from beets.library import Item
-from beets.test.helper import BeetsTestCase
+from beets.test.helper import PluginTestCase
 from beetsplug import parentwork
 
 work = {
@@ -85,15 +85,8 @@ def mock_workid_response(mbid, includes):
         return p_work
 
 
-class ParentWorkIntegrationTest(BeetsTestCase):
-    def setUp(self):
-        """Set up configuration"""
-        super().setUp()
-        self.load_plugins("parentwork")
-
-    def tearDown(self):
-        self.unload_plugins()
-        super().tearDown()
+class ParentWorkIntegrationTest(PluginTestCase):
+    plugin = "parentwork"
 
     # test how it works with real musicbrainz data
     @unittest.skipUnless(
@@ -180,18 +173,18 @@ class ParentWorkIntegrationTest(BeetsTestCase):
         )
 
 
-class ParentWorkTest(BeetsTestCase):
+class ParentWorkTest(PluginTestCase):
+    plugin = "parentwork"
+
     def setUp(self):
         """Set up configuration"""
         super().setUp()
-        self.load_plugins("parentwork")
         self.patcher = patch(
             "musicbrainzngs.get_work_by_id", side_effect=mock_workid_response
         )
         self.patcher.start()
 
     def tearDown(self):
-        self.unload_plugins()
         super().tearDown()
         self.patcher.stop()
 
diff --git a/test/plugins/test_permissions.py b/test/plugins/test_permissions.py
index 14ac77cfc..c1655ca11 100644
--- a/test/plugins/test_permissions.py
+++ b/test/plugins/test_permissions.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import unittest
 from unittest.mock import Mock, patch
 
 from beets.test._common import touch
-from beets.test.helper import BeetsTestCase
+from beets.test.helper import PluginTestCase
 from beets.util import displayable_path
 from beetsplug.permissions import (
     check_permissions,
@@ -16,17 +16,14 @@ from beetsplug.permissions import (
 )
 
 
-class PermissionsPluginTest(BeetsTestCase):
+class PermissionsPluginTest(PluginTestCase):
+    plugin = "permissions"
+
     def setUp(self):
         super().setUp()
-        self.load_plugins("permissions")
 
         self.config["permissions"] = {"file": "777", "dir": "777"}
 
-    def tearDown(self):
-        super().tearDown()
-        self.unload_plugins()
-
     def test_permissions_on_album_imported(self):
         self.do_thing(True)
 
diff --git a/test/plugins/test_play.py b/test/plugins/test_play.py
index 563cb7f3a..9c15e8550 100644
--- a/test/plugins/test_play.py
+++ b/test/plugins/test_play.py
@@ -20,27 +20,23 @@ import sys
 import unittest
 from unittest.mock import ANY, patch
 
-from beets.test.helper import BeetsTestCase, CleanupModulesMixin, control_stdin
+from beets.test.helper import CleanupModulesMixin, PluginTestCase, control_stdin
 from beets.ui import UserError
 from beets.util import open_anything
 from beetsplug.play import PlayPlugin
 
 
 @patch("beetsplug.play.util.interactive_open")
-class PlayPluginTest(CleanupModulesMixin, BeetsTestCase):
+class PlayPluginTest(CleanupModulesMixin, PluginTestCase):
     modules = (PlayPlugin.__module__,)
+    plugin = "play"
 
     def setUp(self):
         super().setUp()
-        self.load_plugins("play")
         self.item = self.add_item(album="a nice älbum", title="aNiceTitle")
         self.lib.add_album([self.item])
         self.config["play"]["command"] = "echo"
 
-    def tearDown(self):
-        super().tearDown()
-        self.unload_plugins()
-
     def run_and_assert(
         self,
         open_mock,
diff --git a/test/plugins/test_player.py b/test/plugins/test_player.py
index f0a3f3b66..4b77d1f5b 100644
--- a/test/plugins/test_player.py
+++ b/test/plugins/test_player.py
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ from unittest import mock
 import confuse
 import yaml
 
-from beets.test.helper import BeetsTestCase
+from beets.test.helper import PluginTestCase
 from beets.util import bluelet
 from beetsplug import bpd
 
@@ -277,12 +277,12 @@ def start_server(args, assigned_port, listener_patch):
     beets.ui.main(args)
 
 
-class BPDTestHelper(BeetsTestCase):
+class BPDTestHelper(PluginTestCase):
     db_on_disk = True
+    plugin = "bpd"
 
     def setUp(self):
         super().setUp()
-        self.load_plugins("bpd")
         self.item1 = self.add_item(
             title="Track One Title",
             track=1,
@@ -297,10 +297,6 @@ class BPDTestHelper(BeetsTestCase):
         )
         self.lib.add_album([self.item1, self.item2])
 
-    def tearDown(self):
-        super().tearDown()
-        self.unload_plugins()
-
     @contextmanager
     def run_bpd(
         self,
diff --git a/test/plugins/test_plexupdate.py b/test/plugins/test_plexupdate.py
index ba4890dbe..c27ff7fc3 100644
--- a/test/plugins/test_plexupdate.py
+++ b/test/plugins/test_plexupdate.py
@@ -2,11 +2,13 @@ import unittest
 
 import responses
 
-from beets.test.helper import BeetsTestCase
+from beets.test.helper import PluginTestCase
 from beetsplug.plexupdate import get_music_section, update_plex
 
 
-class PlexUpdateTest(BeetsTestCase):
+class PlexUpdateTest(PluginTestCase):
+    plugin = "plexupdate"
+
     def add_response_get_music_section(self, section_name="Music"):
         """Create response for mocking the get_music_section function."""
 
@@ -74,14 +76,9 @@ class PlexUpdateTest(BeetsTestCase):
 
     def setUp(self):
         super().setUp()
-        self.load_plugins("plexupdate")
 
         self.config["plex"] = {"host": "localhost", "port": 32400}
 
-    def tearDown(self):
-        super().tearDown()
-        self.unload_plugins()
-
     @responses.activate
     def test_get_music_section(self):
         # Adding response.
diff --git a/test/plugins/test_smartplaylist.py b/test/plugins/test_smartplaylist.py
index f2aa5e1ab..0c37f1bd1 100644
--- a/test/plugins/test_smartplaylist.py
+++ b/test/plugins/test_smartplaylist.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ from beets import config
 from beets.dbcore import OrQuery
 from beets.dbcore.query import FixedFieldSort, MultipleSort, NullSort
 from beets.library import Album, Item, parse_query_string
-from beets.test.helper import BeetsTestCase
+from beets.test.helper import BeetsTestCase, PluginTestCase
 from beets.ui import UserError
 from beets.util import CHAR_REPLACE, bytestring_path, syspath
 from beetsplug.smartplaylist import SmartPlaylistPlugin
@@ -338,7 +338,9 @@ class SmartPlaylistTest(BeetsTestCase):
         self.assertEqual(content, b"http://beets:8337/item/3/file\n")
 
 
-class SmartPlaylistCLITest(BeetsTestCase):
+class SmartPlaylistCLITest(PluginTestCase):
+    plugin = "smartplaylist"
+
     def setUp(self):
         super().setUp()
 
@@ -350,11 +352,6 @@ class SmartPlaylistCLITest(BeetsTestCase):
             ]
         )
         config["smartplaylist"]["playlist_dir"].set(fsdecode(self.temp_dir))
-        self.load_plugins("smartplaylist")
-
-    def tearDown(self):
-        self.unload_plugins()
-        super().tearDown()
 
     def test_splupdate(self):
         with self.assertRaises(UserError):
diff --git a/test/plugins/test_types_plugin.py b/test/plugins/test_types_plugin.py
index 2f00ec425..13f166932 100644
--- a/test/plugins/test_types_plugin.py
+++ b/test/plugins/test_types_plugin.py
@@ -19,17 +19,11 @@ from datetime import datetime
 
 from confuse import ConfigValueError
 
-from beets.test.helper import BeetsTestCase
+from beets.test.helper import PluginTestCase
 
 
-class TypesPluginTest(BeetsTestCase):
-    def setUp(self):
-        super().setUp()
-        self.load_plugins("types")
-
-    def tearDown(self):
-        self.unload_plugins()
-        super().tearDown()
+class TypesPluginTest(PluginTestCase):
+    plugin = "types"
 
     def test_integer_modify_and_query(self):
         self.config["types"] = {"myint": "int"}
diff --git a/test/test_importer.py b/test/test_importer.py
index 980060488..609887ced 100644
--- a/test/test_importer.py
+++ b/test/test_importer.py
@@ -38,25 +38,22 @@ from beets.test.helper import (
     AutotagStub,
     BeetsTestCase,
     ImportTestCase,
+    PluginMixin,
     capture_log,
     has_program,
 )
 from beets.util import bytestring_path, displayable_path, syspath
 
 
-class ScrubbedImportTest(ImportTestCase):
+class ScrubbedImportTest(PluginMixin, ImportTestCase):
     db_on_disk = True
+    plugin = "scrub"
 
     def setUp(self):
         super().setUp()
-        self.load_plugins("scrub")
         self._create_import_dir(2)
         self._setup_import_session(autotag=False)
 
-    def tearDown(self):
-        self.unload_plugins()
-        super().tearDown()
-
     def test_tags_not_scrubbed(self):
         config["plugins"] = ["scrub"]
         config["scrub"]["auto"] = False
diff --git a/test/test_logging.py b/test/test_logging.py
index 97786ec18..e7a4a6cad 100644
--- a/test/test_logging.py
+++ b/test/test_logging.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import beets.logging as blog
 import beetsplug
 from beets import plugins, ui
 from beets.test import _common, helper
-from beets.test.helper import BeetsTestCase
+from beets.test.helper import BeetsTestCase, PluginTestCase
 
 
 class LoggingTest(BeetsTestCase):
@@ -47,7 +47,8 @@ class LoggingTest(BeetsTestCase):
         self.assertTrue(stream.getvalue(), "foo oof baz")
 
 
-class LoggingLevelTest(BeetsTestCase):
+class LoggingLevelTest(PluginTestCase):
+    plugin = "dummy"
     class DummyModule:
         class DummyPlugin(plugins.BeetsPlugin):
             def __init__(self):
@@ -75,10 +76,8 @@ class LoggingLevelTest(BeetsTestCase):
         sys.modules["beetsplug.dummy"] = self.DummyModule
         beetsplug.dummy = self.DummyModule
         super().setUp()
-        self.load_plugins("dummy")
 
     def tearDown(self):
-        self.unload_plugins()
         super().tearDown()
         del beetsplug.dummy
         sys.modules.pop("beetsplug.dummy")
diff --git a/test/test_metasync.py b/test/test_metasync.py
index f320d4a5e..146d89943 100644
--- a/test/test_metasync.py
+++ b/test/test_metasync.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ from datetime import datetime
 
 from beets.library import Item
 from beets.test import _common
-from beets.test.helper import BeetsTestCase
+from beets.test.helper import PluginTestCase
 
 
 def _parsetime(s):
@@ -32,7 +32,8 @@ def _is_windows():
     return platform.system() == "Windows"
 
 
-class MetaSyncTest(BeetsTestCase):
+class MetaSyncTest(PluginTestCase):
+    plugin = "metasync"
     itunes_library_unix = os.path.join(_common.RSRC, b"itunes_library_unix.xml")
     itunes_library_windows = os.path.join(
         _common.RSRC, b"itunes_library_windows.xml"
@@ -40,7 +41,6 @@ class MetaSyncTest(BeetsTestCase):
 
     def setUp(self):
         super().setUp()
-        self.load_plugins("metasync")
 
         self.config["metasync"]["source"] = "itunes"
 
@@ -83,10 +83,6 @@ class MetaSyncTest(BeetsTestCase):
         for item in items:
             self.lib.add(item)
 
-    def tearDown(self):
-        self.unload_plugins()
-        super().tearDown()
-
     def test_load_item_types(self):
         # This test also verifies that the MetaSources have loaded correctly
         self.assertIn("amarok_score", Item._types)
diff --git a/test/test_plugins.py b/test/test_plugins.py
index bda12c2d2..abc6a6968 100644
--- a/test/test_plugins.py
+++ b/test/test_plugins.py
@@ -31,12 +31,9 @@ from beets.importer import (
 from beets.library import Item
 from beets.plugins import MetadataSourcePlugin
 from beets.test import helper
-from beets.test.helper import (
-    AutotagStub,
-    BeetsTestCase,
-    ImportHelper,
-    TerminalImportMixin,
-)
+from beets.test.helper import AutotagStub, ImportHelper
+from beets.test.helper import PluginTestCase as BasePluginTestCase
+from beets.test.helper import TerminalImportMixin
 from beets.util import displayable_path, syspath
 from beets.util.id_extractors import (
     beatport_id_regex,
@@ -45,11 +42,10 @@ from beets.util.id_extractors import (
 )
 
 
-class PluginLoaderTestCase(BeetsTestCase):
+class PluginLoaderTestCase(BasePluginTestCase):
     def setup_plugin_loader(self):
         # FIXME the mocking code is horrific, but this is the lowest and
         # earliest level of the plugin mechanism we can hook into.
-        self.load_plugins()
         self._plugin_loader_patch = patch("beets.plugins.load_plugins")
         self._plugin_classes = set()
         load_plugins = self._plugin_loader_patch.start()
@@ -58,17 +54,16 @@ class PluginLoaderTestCase(BeetsTestCase):
             plugins._classes.update(self._plugin_classes)
 
         load_plugins.side_effect = myload
-        super().setUp()
 
     def teardown_plugin_loader(self):
         self._plugin_loader_patch.stop()
-        self.unload_plugins()
 
     def register_plugin(self, plugin_class):
         self._plugin_classes.add(plugin_class)
 
     def setUp(self):
         self.setup_plugin_loader()
+        super().setUp()
 
     def tearDown(self):
         self.teardown_plugin_loader()
@@ -174,7 +169,6 @@ class EventsTest(PluginImportTestCase):
 
         with helper.capture_log() as logs:
             self.importer.run()
-        self.unload_plugins()
 
         # Exactly one event should have been imported (for the album).
         # Sentinels do not get emitted.
@@ -226,7 +220,6 @@ class EventsTest(PluginImportTestCase):
 
         with helper.capture_log() as logs:
             self.importer.run()
-        self.unload_plugins()
 
         # Exactly one event should have been imported (for the album).
         # Sentinels do not get emitted.