diff --git a/jupyterhub/tests/conftest.py b/jupyterhub/tests/conftest.py
index 7126baa7..96e9a827 100644
--- a/jupyterhub/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/jupyterhub/tests/conftest.py
@@ -74,7 +74,9 @@ def ssl_tmpdir(tmpdir_factory):
 def app(request, io_loop, ssl_tmpdir):
     """Mock a jupyterhub app for testing"""
     mocked_app = None
-    ssl_enabled = getattr(request.module, "ssl_enabled", False)
+    ssl_enabled = request.module.getattr(
+        'ssl_enabled', os.environ.get('SSL_ENABLED', False)
+    )
     kwargs = dict()
     if ssl_enabled:
         kwargs.update(dict(internal_ssl=True, internal_certs_location=str(ssl_tmpdir)))
diff --git a/jupyterhub/tests/test_api.py b/jupyterhub/tests/test_api.py
index 7bedbb2c..2ee3c5e9 100644
--- a/jupyterhub/tests/test_api.py
+++ b/jupyterhub/tests/test_api.py
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 """Tests for the REST API."""
 import json
-import os
 import re
 import sys
 import uuid
@@ -28,7 +27,6 @@ from .utils import async_requests
 from .utils import auth_header
 from .utils import find_user
 
-ssl_enabled = os.environ.get('SSL_ENABLED', False)
 # --------------------
 # Authentication tests
 # --------------------
diff --git a/jupyterhub/tests/test_app.py b/jupyterhub/tests/test_app.py
index 47d23a6a..accdd430 100644
--- a/jupyterhub/tests/test_app.py
+++ b/jupyterhub/tests/test_app.py
@@ -20,8 +20,6 @@ from ..app import JupyterHub
 from .mocking import MockHub
 from .test_api import add_user
 
-ssl_enabled = os.environ.get('SSL_ENABLED', False)
-
 
 def test_help_all():
     out = check_output([sys.executable, '-m', 'jupyterhub', '--help-all']).decode(
diff --git a/jupyterhub/tests/test_spawner.py b/jupyterhub/tests/test_spawner.py
index c98cd9de..99b84393 100644
--- a/jupyterhub/tests/test_spawner.py
+++ b/jupyterhub/tests/test_spawner.py
@@ -42,8 +42,6 @@ while True:
         print("interrupted")
 """
 
-ssl_enabled = os.environ.get('SSL_ENABLED', False)
-
 
 def setup():
     logging.basicConfig(level=logging.DEBUG)