diff --git a/test/_common.py b/test/_common.py
index cc211be8c..c424bbfee 100644
--- a/test/_common.py
+++ b/test/_common.py
@@ -2,6 +2,44 @@
 import time
 import sys
 
+# Mangle the search path to include the beets sources.
+sys.path.insert(0, '..')
+import beets.library
+
+# Dummy item creation.
+def item(): return beets.library.Item({
+    'title':            u'the title',
+    'artist':           u'the artist',
+    'albumartist':      u'the album artist',
+    'album':            u'the album',
+    'genre':            u'the genre',
+    'composer':         u'the composer',
+    'grouping':         u'the grouping',
+    'year':             1,
+    'month':            2,
+    'day':              3,
+    'track':            4,
+    'tracktotal':       5,
+    'disc':             6,
+    'disctotal':        7,
+    'lyrics':           u'the lyrics',
+    'comments':         u'the comments',
+    'bpm':              8,
+    'comp':             True,
+    'path':             'somepath',
+    'length':           60.0,
+    'bitrate':          128000,
+    'format':           'FLAC',
+    'mb_trackid':       'someID-1',
+    'mb_albumid':       'someID-2',
+    'mb_artistid':      'someID-3',
+    'mb_albumartistid': 'someID-4',
+    'album_id':         None,
+})
+
+
+# Mock timing.
+
 class Timecop(object):
     """Mocks the timing system (namely time() and sleep()) for testing.
     Inspired by the Ruby timecop library.
@@ -27,6 +65,9 @@ class Timecop(object):
         time.time = self.orig['time']
         time.sleep = self.orig['sleep']
 
+
+# Mock I/O.
+
 class InputException(Exception):
     def __init__(self, output=None):
         self.output = output
diff --git a/test/test_art.py b/test/test_art.py
index 369c5e839..f9c13fffd 100644
--- a/test/test_art.py
+++ b/test/test_art.py
@@ -15,9 +15,8 @@
 """Tests for the album art fetchers."""
 
 import unittest
-import sys
 
-sys.path.insert(0, '..')
+import _common
 from beets.autotag import art
 
 class MockHeaders(object):
diff --git a/test/test_autotag.py b/test/test_autotag.py
index 81beb3260..ac17abfd8 100644
--- a/test/test_autotag.py
+++ b/test/test_autotag.py
@@ -20,7 +20,8 @@ import sys
 import os
 import shutil
 import re
-sys.path.insert(0, '..')
+
+import _common
 from beets import autotag
 from beets.library import Item
 
diff --git a/test/test_db.py b/test/test_db.py
index cb7643add..f9be61b24 100644
--- a/test/test_db.py
+++ b/test/test_db.py
@@ -16,46 +16,18 @@
 """
 
 import unittest
-import sys
 import os
 import sqlite3
 import ntpath
 import posixpath
-sys.path.insert(0, '..')
+
+import _common
+from _common import item
 import beets.library
 
 def lib(): return beets.library.Library('rsrc' + os.sep + 'test.blb')
 def boracay(l): return beets.library.Item(l.conn.execute('select * from items '
     'where id=3').fetchone())
-def item(): return beets.library.Item({
-    'title':            u'the title',
-    'artist':           u'the artist',
-    'albumartist':      u'the album artist',
-    'album':            u'the album',
-    'genre':            u'the genre',
-    'composer':         u'the composer',
-    'grouping':         u'the grouping',
-    'year':             1,
-    'month':            2,
-    'day':              3,
-    'track':            4,
-    'tracktotal':       5,
-    'disc':             6,
-    'disctotal':        7,
-    'lyrics':           u'the lyrics',
-    'comments':         u'the comments',
-    'bpm':              8,
-    'comp':             True,
-    'path':             'somepath',
-    'length':           60.0,
-    'bitrate':          128000,
-    'format':           'FLAC',
-    'mb_trackid':       'someID-1',
-    'mb_albumid':       'someID-2',
-    'mb_artistid':      'someID-3',
-    'mb_albumartistid': 'someID-4',
-    'album_id':         None,
-})
 np = beets.library._normpath
 
 class LoadTest(unittest.TestCase):
diff --git a/test/test_files.py b/test/test_files.py
index 1742214e9..a58235f27 100644
--- a/test/test_files.py
+++ b/test/test_files.py
@@ -17,13 +17,13 @@
 
 import unittest
 import shutil
-import sys
 import os
 import stat
 from os.path import join
-sys.path.insert(0, '..')
+
+import _common
+from _common import item
 import beets.library
-from test_db import item
 
 def touch(path):
     open(path, 'a').close()
diff --git a/test/test_mb.py b/test/test_mb.py
index 20745b3cb..a1684f368 100644
--- a/test/test_mb.py
+++ b/test/test_mb.py
@@ -16,12 +16,11 @@
 """
 
 import unittest
-import sys
 import time
 import musicbrainz2.model
 import musicbrainz2.webservice as mbws
+
 import _common
-sys.path.insert(0, '..')
 from beets.autotag import mb
 
 def nullfun(): pass
diff --git a/test/test_mediafile.py b/test/test_mediafile.py
index a905ab989..c6bfa3006 100644
--- a/test/test_mediafile.py
+++ b/test/test_mediafile.py
@@ -15,8 +15,10 @@
 """Specific, edge-case tests for the MediaFile metadata layer.
 """
 
-import unittest, sys, os, shutil, datetime
-sys.path.insert(0, '..')
+import unittest
+import os
+
+import _common
 import beets.mediafile
 
 class EdgeTest(unittest.TestCase):
diff --git a/test/test_mediafile_basic.py b/test/test_mediafile_basic.py
index 24948f1a2..a217f13d1 100644
--- a/test/test_mediafile_basic.py
+++ b/test/test_mediafile_basic.py
@@ -16,8 +16,12 @@
 layer.
 """
 
-import unittest, sys, os, shutil, datetime
-sys.path.insert(0, '..')
+import unittest
+import os
+import shutil
+import datetime
+
+import _common
 import beets.mediafile
 
 
diff --git a/test/test_player.py b/test/test_player.py
index 4586aa804..b7fda4383 100644
--- a/test/test_player.py
+++ b/test/test_player.py
@@ -16,8 +16,8 @@
 """
 
 import unittest
-import sys
-sys.path.insert(0, '..')
+
+import _common
 from beetsplug import bpd
 
 class FauxPathTest(unittest.TestCase):
diff --git a/test/test_query.py b/test/test_query.py
index 4fa5b4eee..46f8a440b 100644
--- a/test/test_query.py
+++ b/test/test_query.py
@@ -15,14 +15,15 @@
 """Various tests for querying the library database.
 """
 
-import unittest, sys, os
-sys.path.insert(0, '..')
+import unittest
+import os
+
+import _common
 import beets.library
-import test_db
 
 parse_query = beets.library.CollectionQuery._parse_query
 
-some_item = test_db.item()
+some_item = _common.item()
 
 class QueryParseTest(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_one_basic_term(self):
diff --git a/test/test_ui.py b/test/test_ui.py
index 7af95d758..1af54f8e9 100644
--- a/test/test_ui.py
+++ b/test/test_ui.py
@@ -16,20 +16,18 @@
 """
 
 import unittest
-import sys
 import os
 import shutil
 import textwrap
 from StringIO import StringIO
 import logging
+
 import _common
-sys.path.insert(0, '..')
 from beets import library
 from beets import ui
 from beets.ui import commands
 from beets import autotag
 from beets import mediafile
-import test_db
 
 TEST_TITLES = ('The Opener','The Second Track','The Last Track')
 class ImportTest(unittest.TestCase):
@@ -126,7 +124,7 @@ class ListTest(unittest.TestCase):
         self.io.install()
 
         self.lib = library.Library(':memory:')
-        i = test_db.item()
+        i = _common.item()
         self.lib.add(i)
         self.lib.add_album([i])
 
@@ -210,7 +208,7 @@ class AutotagTest(unittest.TestCase):
     def _no_candidates_test(self, result):
         res = commands.choose_match(
             'path',
-            [test_db.item()], # items
+            [_common.item()], # items
             'artist',
             'album',
             [], # candidates