diff --git a/tests/handlers/test_request_new.py b/tests/handlers/test_request_new.py
index 629a07e2..ddaad13e 100644
--- a/tests/handlers/test_request_new.py
+++ b/tests/handlers/test_request_new.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ ERROR_CLASS = 'usa-input-error-message'
 
 @pytest.mark.gen_test
 def test_submit_invalid_request_form(monkeypatch, http_client, base_url):
+    monkeypatch.setattr('atst.handlers.request_new.RequestNew.get_current_user', lambda s: True)
     monkeypatch.setattr('atst.handlers.request_new.RequestNew.check_xsrf_cookie', lambda s: True)
     # this just needs to send a known invalid form value
     response = yield http_client.fetch(
@@ -19,6 +20,7 @@ def test_submit_invalid_request_form(monkeypatch, http_client, base_url):
 
 @pytest.mark.gen_test
 def test_submit_valid_request_form(monkeypatch, http_client, base_url):
+    monkeypatch.setattr('atst.handlers.request_new.RequestNew.get_current_user', lambda s: True)
     monkeypatch.setattr('atst.handlers.request_new.RequestNew.check_xsrf_cookie', lambda s: True)
     monkeypatch.setattr('atst.forms.request.RequestForm.validate', lambda s: True)
     # this just needs to send a known invalid form value