diff --git a/jupyterhub/tests/conftest.py b/jupyterhub/tests/conftest.py
index 96e9a827..f4cad6cf 100644
--- a/jupyterhub/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/jupyterhub/tests/conftest.py
@@ -74,8 +74,8 @@ def ssl_tmpdir(tmpdir_factory):
 def app(request, io_loop, ssl_tmpdir):
     """Mock a jupyterhub app for testing"""
     mocked_app = None
-    ssl_enabled = request.module.getattr(
-        'ssl_enabled', os.environ.get('SSL_ENABLED', False)
+    ssl_enabled = getattr(
+        request.module, 'ssl_enabled', os.environ.get('SSL_ENABLED', False)
     )
     kwargs = dict()
     if ssl_enabled: