diff --git a/jupyterhub/tests/mocking.py b/jupyterhub/tests/mocking.py
index 2cd6650f..21b42483 100644
--- a/jupyterhub/tests/mocking.py
+++ b/jupyterhub/tests/mocking.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 import os
 import sys
+from tempfile import NamedTemporaryFile
 import threading
 
 try:
@@ -58,19 +59,11 @@ class MockPAMAuthenticator(PAMAuthenticator):
 class MockHubApp(JupyterHubApp):
     """HubApp with various mock bits"""
 
-    db_path = os.path.join(
-        os.path.dirname(
-            os.path.realpath(__file__),
-        ),
-        "test.sqlite",
-    )
-    
+    db_file = None
+
     def _ip_default(self):
         return 'localhost'
     
-    def _db_url_default(self):
-        return "sqlite:///" + self.db_path
-
     def _authenticator_class_default(self):
         return MockPAMAuthenticator
     
@@ -80,12 +73,9 @@ class MockHubApp(JupyterHubApp):
     def _admin_users_default(self):
         return {'admin'}
 
-    def rm_db(self):
-        if os.path.exists(self.db_path):
-            os.remove(self.db_path)
-
     def start(self, argv=None):
-        self.rm_db()
+        self.db_file = NamedTemporaryFile()
+        self.db_url = 'sqlite:///' + self.db_file.name
         evt = threading.Event()
         def _start():
             self.io_loop = IOLoop.current()
@@ -104,6 +94,6 @@ class MockHubApp(JupyterHubApp):
         evt.wait(timeout=5)
     
     def stop(self):
-        self.rm_db()
+        self.db_file.close()
         self.io_loop.add_callback(self.io_loop.stop)
         self._thread.join()