diff --git a/kombu/tests/test_functional/test_beanstalk.py b/kombu/tests/test_functional/test_beanstalk.py
index a1c86535..d726430a 100644
--- a/kombu/tests/test_functional/test_beanstalk.py
+++ b/kombu/tests/test_functional/test_beanstalk.py
@@ -10,6 +10,3 @@ class test_beanstalk(transport.TransportCase):
 
     def after_connect(self, connection):
         connection.channel().client
-
-    def test_basic_get(self):
-        raise SkipTest("beanstalk does not support synchronous access.")
diff --git a/kombu/tests/test_functional/test_mongodb.py b/kombu/tests/test_functional/test_mongodb.py
index 976a1bad..0acdf49d 100644
--- a/kombu/tests/test_functional/test_mongodb.py
+++ b/kombu/tests/test_functional/test_mongodb.py
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-from nose import SkipTest
-
 from kombu.tests.test_functional import transport
 
 
@@ -10,6 +8,3 @@ class test_mongodb(transport.TransportCase):
 
     def after_connect(self, connection):
         connection.channel().client
-
-    #def test_basic_get(self):
-    #   raise SkipTest("beanstalk does not support synchronous access.")
diff --git a/kombu/tests/test_functional/test_redis.py b/kombu/tests/test_functional/test_redis.py
index 60e4c91d..94d0211d 100644
--- a/kombu/tests/test_functional/test_redis.py
+++ b/kombu/tests/test_functional/test_redis.py
@@ -6,4 +6,5 @@ class test_redis(transport.TransportCase):
     prefix = "redis"
 
     def after_connect(self, connection):
-        connection.channel().client
+        client = connection.channel().client
+        client.info()
diff --git a/kombu/tests/test_functional/transport.py b/kombu/tests/test_functional/transport.py
index 272accaa..14b647b4 100644
--- a/kombu/tests/test_functional/transport.py
+++ b/kombu/tests/test_functional/transport.py
@@ -32,33 +32,47 @@ class TransportCase(unittest.TestCase):
     transport = None
     prefix = None
     event_loop_max = 100
+    connection_options = {}
 
-    def purge(self, names):
-        chan = self.connection.channel()
-        map(chan.queue_purge, names)
+    connected = False
+    skip_test_reason = None
 
-    def do_connect(self):
-        self.connection = BrokerConnection(transport=self.transport)
-        try:
-            self.connection.connect()
-            self.after_connect(self.connection)
-        except self.connection.connection_errors:
-            self.connected = False
-        else:
-            self.connected = True
+    def before_connect(self):
+        pass
 
     def after_connect(self, connection):
         pass
 
     def setUp(self):
         if self.transport:
-            self.do_connect()
+            try:
+                self.before_connect()
+            except SkipTest, exc:
+                self.skip_test_reason = str(exc)
+            else:
+                self.do_connect()
             self.exchange = Exchange(self.prefix, "direct")
             self.queue = Queue(self.prefix, self.exchange, self.prefix)
 
+    def purge(self, names):
+        chan = self.connection.channel()
+        map(chan.queue_purge, names)
+
+    def do_connect(self):
+        self.connection = BrokerConnection(transport=self.transport,
+                                           **self.connection_options)
+        try:
+            self.connection.connect()
+            self.after_connect(self.connection)
+        except self.connection.connection_errors:
+            self.skip_test_reason = "%s transport can't connect" % (
+                                       self.transport, )
+        else:
+            self.connected = True
+
     def verify_alive(self):
         if not self.connected:
-            raise SkipTest("%s not running." % self.transport)
+            raise SkipTest(self.skip_test_reason)
 
     def test_produce__consume(self):
         if not self.transport:
@@ -118,13 +132,13 @@ class TransportCase(unittest.TestCase):
         self.verify_alive()
         chan1 = self.connection.channel()
         producer = Producer(chan1, self.exchange)
-        producer.publish({"basic.get": "this"}, routing_key="basic_get")
-        chan1.close()
-
         chan2 = self.connection.channel()
         queue = Queue(self.P("basic_get"), self.exchange, "basic_get")
         queue = queue(chan2)
         queue.declare()
+        producer.publish({"basic.get": "this"}, routing_key="basic_get")
+        chan1.close()
+
         for i in range(self.event_loop_max):
             m = queue.get()
             if m: