diff --git a/tests/test_commands.py b/tests/test_commands.py
index 500906a3..786fc26e 100644
--- a/tests/test_commands.py
+++ b/tests/test_commands.py
@@ -1,17 +1,44 @@
-from rq.serializers import JSONSerializer
 import time
 
 from multiprocessing import Process
 
+from redis import Redis
+
 from tests import RQTestCase
 from tests.fixtures import long_running_job
 
 from rq import Queue, Worker
 from rq.command import send_command, send_kill_horse_command, send_shutdown_command, send_stop_job_command
 from rq.exceptions import InvalidJobOperation, NoSuchJobError
+from rq.serializers import JSONSerializer
 from rq.worker import WorkerStatus
 
 
+def _send_shutdown_command(worker_name, connection_kwargs):
+    time.sleep(0.25)
+    send_shutdown_command(Redis(**connection_kwargs), worker_name)
+
+
+def _send_kill_horse_command(worker_name, connection_kwargs):
+    """Waits 0.25 seconds before sending kill-horse command"""
+    time.sleep(0.25)
+    send_kill_horse_command(Redis(**connection_kwargs), worker_name)
+
+
+def start_work(queue_name, worker_name, connection_kwargs):
+    worker = Worker(queue_name, name=worker_name,
+                    connection=Redis(**connection_kwargs))
+    worker.work()
+
+
+def start_work_burst(queue_name, worker_name, connection_kwargs):
+    worker = Worker(queue_name, name=worker_name,
+                    connection=Redis(**connection_kwargs),
+                    serializer=JSONSerializer)
+    worker.work(burst=True)
+
+
+
 class TestCommands(RQTestCase):
 
     def test_shutdown_command(self):
@@ -19,11 +46,9 @@ class TestCommands(RQTestCase):
         connection = self.testconn
         worker = Worker('foo', connection=connection)
 
-        def _send_shutdown_command():
-            time.sleep(0.25)
-            send_shutdown_command(connection, worker.name)
-
-        p = Process(target=_send_shutdown_command)
+        p = Process(target=_send_shutdown_command,
+                    args=(worker.name,
+                          connection.connection_pool.connection_kwargs.copy()))
         p.start()
         worker.work()
         p.join(1)
@@ -35,22 +60,18 @@ class TestCommands(RQTestCase):
         job = queue.enqueue(long_running_job, 4)
         worker = Worker('foo', connection=connection)
 
-        def _send_kill_horse_command():
-            """Waits 0.25 seconds before sending kill-horse command"""
-            time.sleep(0.25)
-            send_kill_horse_command(connection, worker.name)
-
-        p = Process(target=_send_kill_horse_command)
+        p = Process(target=_send_kill_horse_command,
+                    args=(worker.name,
+                          connection.connection_pool.connection_kwargs.copy()))
         p.start()
         worker.work(burst=True)
         p.join(1)
         job.refresh()
         self.assertTrue(job.id in queue.failed_job_registry)
 
-        def start_work():
-            worker.work()
-
-        p = Process(target=start_work)
+        p = Process(target=start_work,
+                    args=('foo', worker.name,
+                          connection.connection_pool.connection_kwargs.copy()))
         p.start()
         p.join(2)
 
@@ -76,10 +97,9 @@ class TestCommands(RQTestCase):
         with self.assertRaises(NoSuchJobError):
             send_stop_job_command(connection, job_id='1', serializer=JSONSerializer)
 
-        def start_work():
-            worker.work(burst=True)
-
-        p = Process(target=start_work)
+        p = Process(target=start_work_burst,
+                    args=('foo', worker.name,
+                          connection.connection_pool.connection_kwargs.copy()))
         p.start()
         p.join(1)