diff --git a/beets/util/confit.py b/beets/util/confit.py
index 6a787ce3c..6499f146d 100644
--- a/beets/util/confit.py
+++ b/beets/util/confit.py
@@ -689,9 +689,13 @@ class LazyConfig(Configuration):
         self._lazy_prefix = []  # Pre-materialization calls to set().
         self._lazy_suffix = []  # Calls to add().
 
+    def read(self, user=True, defaults=True):
+        self._materialized = True
+        super(LazyConfig, self).read(user, defaults)
+
     def resolve(self):
         if not self._materialized:
-            self._materialized = True
+            # Read files and unspool buffers.
             self.read()
             self.sources += self._lazy_suffix
             self.sources[:0] = self._lazy_prefix
diff --git a/test/_common.py b/test/_common.py
index 0a2f8595b..864813766 100644
--- a/test/_common.py
+++ b/test/_common.py
@@ -92,7 +92,6 @@ class TestCase(unittest.TestCase):
     def setUp(self):
         # A "clean" source list including only the defaults.
         beets.config.sources = []
-        beets.config._materialized = True
         beets.config.read(user=False, defaults=True)
 
         # Direct paths to a temporary directory. Tests can also use this