diff --git a/tests/test_hobo_notify.py b/tests/test_hobo_notify.py
index 4ac7c9f51..d18002c25 100644
--- a/tests/test_hobo_notify.py
+++ b/tests/test_hobo_notify.py
@@ -2,40 +2,39 @@
 import shutil
 from quixote import cleanup
 
+from wcs.qommon.http_request import HTTPRequest
 from wcs.ctl.hobo_notify import CmdHoboNotify
 from wcs.roles import Role
-from wcs.users import User
 
-from utilities import create_temporary_pub
+from utilities import create_temporary_pub, clean_temporary_pub
 
 import pytest
 
-pub = None
 
+def pytest_generate_tests(metafunc):
+    if 'pub' in metafunc.fixturenames:
+        metafunc.parametrize('pub', ['pickle', 'sql'], indirect=True)
 
-def setup_module(module):
-    cleanup()
-    global pub
-    pub = create_temporary_pub()
+@pytest.fixture
+def pub(request):
+    pub = create_temporary_pub(sql_mode=(request.param == 'sql'))
+
+    req = HTTPRequest(None, {'SCRIPT_NAME': '/', 'SERVER_NAME': 'example.net'})
+    pub.set_app_dir(req)
     pub.cfg['sp'] = {'saml2_providerid': 'test'}
     pub.write_cfg()
 
-
-def teardown_module(module):
-    shutil.rmtree(pub.APP_DIR)
-
-
-def setup_function(function):
+    Role.wipe()
     r = Role(name='Service étt civil')
     r.slug = 'service-ett-civil'
     r.store()
 
-
-def teardown_function(function):
-    Role.wipe()
+    return pub
 
 
-def test_process_notification_role_wrong_audience():
+def test_process_notification_role_wrong_audience(pub):
+    User = pub.user_class
+
     notification = {
         '@type': u'provision',
         'audience': [u'coin'],
@@ -78,7 +77,9 @@ def test_process_notification_role_wrong_audience():
     assert Role.select()[0].emails_to_members is False
 
 
-def test_process_notification_role():
+def test_process_notification_role(pub):
+    User = pub.user_class
+
     notification = {
         '@type': u'provision',
         'audience': [u'test'],
@@ -154,7 +155,9 @@ def test_process_notification_role():
     assert Role.select()[0].emails == ['petite-enfance@example.com']
     assert Role.select()[0].emails_to_members is True
 
-def test_process_notification_role_description():
+def test_process_notification_role_description(pub):
+    User = pub.user_class
+
     # check descriptions are not used to fill role.details
     notification = {
         '@type': u'provision',
@@ -232,7 +235,9 @@ def test_process_notification_role_description():
     assert Role.select()[0].emails_to_members is True
 
 
-def test_process_notification_role_deprovision():
+def test_process_notification_role_deprovision(pub):
+    User = pub.user_class
+
     notification = {
         '@type': u'deprovision',
         'audience': [u'test'],
@@ -398,7 +403,9 @@ PROFILE = {
     ]
 }
 
-def test_process_notification_user_provision():
+def test_process_notification_user_provision(pub):
+    User = pub.user_class
+
     # create some roles
     from wcs.ctl.check_hobos import CmdCheckHobos
 
@@ -490,7 +497,7 @@ def test_process_notification_user_provision():
     assert user.form_data['_email'] == 'john.doe@example.net'
     assert user.email == 'john.doe@example.net'
     assert user.form_data['_first_name'] == 'John'
-    assert user.form_data['_last_name'] == 'Doe'
+    assert user.form_data['_last_name'] == u'Doe'.encode('utf-8')
     assert user.form_data['_zipcode'] == '13400'
     assert user.name_identifiers == ['a'*32]
     assert user.is_admin is False
@@ -538,7 +545,9 @@ def test_process_notification_user_provision():
 def notify_of_exception(exc_info, context):
     raise Exception(exc_info)
 
-def test_process_notification_user_with_errors():
+def test_process_notification_user_with_errors(pub):
+    User = pub.user_class
+
     # setup an hobo profile
     from wcs.ctl.check_hobos import CmdCheckHobos
     User.wipe()
@@ -597,7 +606,8 @@ def test_process_notification_user_with_errors():
     assert e.value.args[0][0] == KeyError
     assert e.value.args[0][1].args == ('user without uuid',)
 
-def test_process_notification_role_with_errors():
+def test_process_notification_role_with_errors(pub):
+    User = pub.user_class
     User.wipe()
     Role.wipe()
     notification = {