diff --git a/tests/spans/conftest.py b/tests/spans/conftest.py
index 710c47cf6..4e82af8b2 100644
--- a/tests/spans/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/spans/conftest.py
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 import pytest
-from spacy.en import English
+from spacy.en import English, LOCAL_DATA_DIR
+import os
 
 
 @pytest.fixture(scope="session")
 def en_nlp():
-    return English(load_vectors=False)
+    data_dir = os.environ.get('SPACY_DATA', LOCAL_DATA_DIR)
+    return English(load_vectors=False, data_dir=data_dir)
diff --git a/tests/spans/test_span.py b/tests/spans/test_span.py
index 9ef5fb147..d7f48e080 100644
--- a/tests/spans/test_span.py
+++ b/tests/spans/test_span.py
@@ -22,4 +22,4 @@ def test_root(doc):
     assert len(np) == 2
     assert np.orth_ == 'a sentence'
     assert np.root.orth_ == 'sentence'
-    assert nlp.root.head.orth_ == 'is'
+    assert np.root.head.orth_ == 'is'
diff --git a/tests/tokenizer/test_contractions.py b/tests/tokenizer/test_contractions.py
index 1d12e3d22..ea93ff8b4 100644
--- a/tests/tokenizer/test_contractions.py
+++ b/tests/tokenizer/test_contractions.py
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ def test_aint(en_tokenizer):
     assert tokens[1].orth_ == "n't"
     assert tokens[1].lemma_ == "not"
 
-
 def test_capitalized(en_tokenizer):
     tokens = en_tokenizer("can't")
     assert len(tokens) == 2
diff --git a/tests/tokens/test_token.py b/tests/tokens/test_token.py
index 88ea6a5a5..14dfb31b6 100644
--- a/tests/tokens/test_token.py
+++ b/tests/tokens/test_token.py
@@ -1,16 +1,10 @@
 from __future__ import unicode_literals
 import pytest
 
-from spacy.en import English
 from spacy.parts_of_speech import ADV
 
 
-@pytest.fixture
-def nlp():
-    return English()
-
-
-def test_prob(nlp):
-    tokens = nlp(u'Give it back')
+def test_prob(EN):
+    tokens = EN(u'Give it back', parse=False)
     give = tokens[0]
     assert give.prob != 0