diff --git a/mezzanine/utils/conf.py b/mezzanine/utils/conf.py
index 15674b0c71..e5eeded8ff 100644
--- a/mezzanine/utils/conf.py
+++ b/mezzanine/utils/conf.py
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ def mezzanine_settings():
                 db["NAME"] = db_path
         elif shortname == "mysql":
             # Required MySQL collation for tests.
-            db.setdefault("TEST", {})["COLLATION"] = "utf8_general_ci"
+            db.setdefault("TEST", {}).setdefault("COLLATION", "utf8_general_ci")
 
 
 def real_project_name(project_name):