diff --git a/tests/api/test_ratelimiting.py b/tests/api/test_ratelimiting.py
index dc2f83c7eb0f7be4513f613515d0831c203c656f..dd0bc19ecfc26a804fa87355286f04352737dfbf 100644
--- a/tests/api/test_ratelimiting.py
+++ b/tests/api/test_ratelimiting.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 from synapse.api.ratelimiting import Ratelimiter
 
-import unittest
+from tests import unittest
 
 class TestRatelimiter(unittest.TestCase):
 
diff --git a/tests/events/test_events.py b/tests/events/test_events.py
index 93d5c15c6f1e58b709476bc43a21f1bfb434a37a..a4b6cb3afd2ba82aa059dbfcaf72d621f500bc66 100644
--- a/tests/events/test_events.py
+++ b/tests/events/test_events.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 
 from synapse.api.events import SynapseEvent
 
-import unittest
+from tests import unittest
 
 
 class SynapseTemplateCheckTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
diff --git a/tests/federation/test_federation.py b/tests/federation/test_federation.py
index 0b105fe723b68366a80401fdeace3fba3c069e81..954ccac2a49f5104be9ebfcd8e11c99c3185b697 100644
--- a/tests/federation/test_federation.py
+++ b/tests/federation/test_federation.py
@@ -14,11 +14,10 @@
 
 # trial imports
 from twisted.internet import defer
-from twisted.trial import unittest
+from tests import unittest
 
 # python imports
 from mock import Mock
-import logging
 
 from ..utils import MockHttpResource, MockClock
 
@@ -28,9 +27,6 @@ from synapse.federation.units import Pdu
 from synapse.storage.pdu import PduTuple, PduEntry
 
 
-logging.getLogger().addHandler(logging.NullHandler())
-
-
 def make_pdu(prev_pdus=[], **kwargs):
     """Provide some default fields for making a PduTuple."""
     pdu_fields = {
diff --git a/tests/federation/test_pdu_codec.py b/tests/federation/test_pdu_codec.py
index 9f74ba119ffae439393bc8d70b908315e179022c..344e1baf60c21aebe9e2e827ed232b0f9bb1b3ca 100644
--- a/tests/federation/test_pdu_codec.py
+++ b/tests/federation/test_pdu_codec.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
-from twisted.trial import unittest
+from tests import unittest
 
 from synapse.federation.pdu_codec import (
     PduCodec, encode_event_id, decode_event_id
diff --git a/tests/handlers/test_directory.py b/tests/handlers/test_directory.py
index 72a2b1443a46caf63e82b3f87907c04b808d7662..54d6e51f973b0474a17030751dab273c177a51ef 100644
--- a/tests/handlers/test_directory.py
+++ b/tests/handlers/test_directory.py
@@ -14,11 +14,10 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 
 
-from twisted.trial import unittest
+from tests import unittest
 from twisted.internet import defer
 
 from mock import Mock
-import logging
 
 from synapse.server import HomeServer
 from synapse.http.client import HttpClient
@@ -26,9 +25,6 @@ from synapse.handlers.directory import DirectoryHandler
 from synapse.storage.directory import RoomAliasMapping
 
 
-logging.getLogger().addHandler(logging.NullHandler())
-
-
 class DirectoryHandlers(object):
     def __init__(self, hs):
         self.directory_handler = DirectoryHandler(hs)
diff --git a/tests/handlers/test_federation.py b/tests/handlers/test_federation.py
index 6fc3d8f7fd2352d2bcfdd95501140fdb21d58d79..f0308a29d3429bccb524656827093bc203d14917 100644
--- a/tests/handlers/test_federation.py
+++ b/tests/handlers/test_federation.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 
 
 from twisted.internet import defer
-from twisted.trial import unittest
+from tests import unittest
 
 from synapse.api.events.room import (
     InviteJoinEvent, MessageEvent, RoomMemberEvent
@@ -26,12 +26,8 @@ from synapse.federation.units import Pdu
 
 from mock import NonCallableMock, ANY
 
-import logging
-
 from ..utils import get_mock_call_args
 
-logging.getLogger().addHandler(logging.NullHandler())
-
 
 class FederationTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
 
diff --git a/tests/handlers/test_presence.py b/tests/handlers/test_presence.py
index 9eb8b6909f99befe31db8394e685201c1579d160..06f5f9c2ba7a02a59bd8165ee06b094aad2cfe15 100644
--- a/tests/handlers/test_presence.py
+++ b/tests/handlers/test_presence.py
@@ -14,11 +14,10 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 
 
-from twisted.trial import unittest
+from tests import unittest
 from twisted.internet import defer, reactor
 
 from mock import Mock, call, ANY
-import logging
 import json
 
 from ..utils import MockHttpResource, MockClock, DeferredMockCallable
@@ -34,9 +33,6 @@ UNAVAILABLE = PresenceState.UNAVAILABLE
 ONLINE = PresenceState.ONLINE
 
 
-logging.getLogger().addHandler(logging.NullHandler())
-
-
 def _expect_edu(destination, edu_type, content, origin="test"):
     return {
         "origin": origin,
@@ -92,7 +88,6 @@ class PresenceStateTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
         # Mock the RoomMemberHandler
         room_member_handler = Mock(spec=[])
         hs.handlers.room_member_handler = room_member_handler
-        logging.getLogger().debug("Mocking room_member_handler=%r", room_member_handler)
 
         # Some local users to test with
         self.u_apple = hs.parse_userid("@apple:test")
diff --git a/tests/handlers/test_presencelike.py b/tests/handlers/test_presencelike.py
index b35980d948869499dc6020de8962fa46ba124681..72c55b36674db5222bab107243717162a40b4fc1 100644
--- a/tests/handlers/test_presencelike.py
+++ b/tests/handlers/test_presencelike.py
@@ -16,11 +16,10 @@
 """This file contains tests of the "presence-like" data that is shared between
 presence and profiles; namely, the displayname and avatar_url."""
 
-from twisted.trial import unittest
+from tests import unittest
 from twisted.internet import defer
 
 from mock import Mock, call, ANY
-import logging
 
 from ..utils import MockClock
 
@@ -35,9 +34,6 @@ UNAVAILABLE = PresenceState.UNAVAILABLE
 ONLINE = PresenceState.ONLINE
 
 
-logging.getLogger().addHandler(logging.NullHandler())
-
-
 class MockReplication(object):
     def __init__(self):
         self.edu_handlers = {}
diff --git a/tests/handlers/test_profile.py b/tests/handlers/test_profile.py
index 8e7a89b4792ada2a64312d5f1e72b0d7edbd8b1d..0a5cebb4cce1150200fefefca1ed8d1115f0eb54 100644
--- a/tests/handlers/test_profile.py
+++ b/tests/handlers/test_profile.py
@@ -14,20 +14,16 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 
 
-from twisted.trial import unittest
+from tests import unittest
 from twisted.internet import defer
 
 from mock import Mock
-import logging
 
 from synapse.api.errors import AuthError
 from synapse.server import HomeServer
 from synapse.handlers.profile import ProfileHandler
 
 
-logging.getLogger().addHandler(logging.NullHandler())
-
-
 class ProfileHandlers(object):
     def __init__(self, hs):
         self.profile_handler = ProfileHandler(hs)
diff --git a/tests/handlers/test_room.py b/tests/handlers/test_room.py
index 5687bbea0b690a40c426efb7d056029773c6c5af..a1a2e8049250b9599b8a44b2c07dbdaa090c8353 100644
--- a/tests/handlers/test_room.py
+++ b/tests/handlers/test_room.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 
 
 from twisted.internet import defer
-from twisted.trial import unittest
+from tests import unittest
 
 from synapse.api.events.room import (
     InviteJoinEvent, RoomMemberEvent, RoomConfigEvent
@@ -27,10 +27,6 @@ from synapse.server import HomeServer
 
 from mock import Mock, NonCallableMock
 
-import logging
-
-logging.getLogger().addHandler(logging.NullHandler())
-
 
 class RoomMemberHandlerTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
 
diff --git a/tests/handlers/test_typing.py b/tests/handlers/test_typing.py
index 6532ac94a3394590a4f5a9188a7b703cc7ad23a4..ab908cdfc1a7ace3f76672d5e8d50cbfd611dc17 100644
--- a/tests/handlers/test_typing.py
+++ b/tests/handlers/test_typing.py
@@ -14,12 +14,11 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 
 
-from twisted.trial import unittest
+from tests import unittest
 from twisted.internet import defer
 
 from mock import Mock, call, ANY
 import json
-import logging
 
 from ..utils import MockHttpResource, MockClock, DeferredMockCallable
 
@@ -27,9 +26,6 @@ from synapse.server import HomeServer
 from synapse.handlers.typing import TypingNotificationHandler
 
 
-logging.getLogger().addHandler(logging.NullHandler())
-
-
 def _expect_edu(destination, edu_type, content, origin="test"):
     return {
         "origin": origin,
diff --git a/tests/rest/test_events.py b/tests/rest/test_events.py
index fd2224f55fa2bf5457ce85eb1e8073a9732e576f..79b371c04dffa278560006d4c0350ce695ffa887 100644
--- a/tests/rest/test_events.py
+++ b/tests/rest/test_events.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 
 """ Tests REST events for /events paths."""
-from twisted.trial import unittest
+from tests import unittest
 
 # twisted imports
 from twisted.internet import defer
@@ -27,14 +27,12 @@ from synapse.server import HomeServer
 
 # python imports
 import json
-import logging
 
 from ..utils import MockHttpResource, MemoryDataStore
 from .utils import RestTestCase
 
 from mock import Mock, NonCallableMock
 
-logging.getLogger().addHandler(logging.NullHandler())
 
 PATH_PREFIX = "/_matrix/client/api/v1"
 
diff --git a/tests/rest/test_presence.py b/tests/rest/test_presence.py
index a1db0fbcf3770e4c4a1d3248e50fc665bfa2abc5..ea3478ac5d85e276697bfbf80327f1d79011641b 100644
--- a/tests/rest/test_presence.py
+++ b/tests/rest/test_presence.py
@@ -15,11 +15,10 @@
 
 """Tests REST events for /presence paths."""
 
-from twisted.trial import unittest
+from tests import unittest
 from twisted.internet import defer
 
 from mock import Mock
-import logging
 
 from ..utils import MockHttpResource
 
@@ -28,9 +27,6 @@ from synapse.handlers.presence import PresenceHandler
 from synapse.server import HomeServer
 
 
-logging.getLogger().addHandler(logging.NullHandler())
-
-
 OFFLINE = PresenceState.OFFLINE
 UNAVAILABLE = PresenceState.UNAVAILABLE
 ONLINE = PresenceState.ONLINE
diff --git a/tests/rest/test_profile.py b/tests/rest/test_profile.py
index f41810df1fd16e188b018d613a425e66be720e0d..e6e51f6dd09a64ef322a4b44de8b5329327b40e1 100644
--- a/tests/rest/test_profile.py
+++ b/tests/rest/test_profile.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 
 """Tests REST events for /profile paths."""
 
-from twisted.trial import unittest
+from tests import unittest
 from twisted.internet import defer
 
 from mock import Mock
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ from synapse.server import HomeServer
 myid = "@1234ABCD:test"
 PATH_PREFIX = "/_matrix/client/api/v1"
 
+
 class ProfileTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
     """ Tests profile management. """
 
diff --git a/tests/rest/utils.py b/tests/rest/utils.py
index 77f5ecf0df7231794db25b56371b792d6f1c4fec..ce2e8fd98a189f3d69874440b458550792f8ba22 100644
--- a/tests/rest/utils.py
+++ b/tests/rest/utils.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 from twisted.internet import defer
 
 # trial imports
-from twisted.trial import unittest
+from tests import unittest
 
 from synapse.api.constants import Membership
 
diff --git a/tests/storage/test_base.py b/tests/storage/test_base.py
index 330311448d6ae773ac8ed47e46d8fb88a1925050..3ad9a4b0c01563d9229ac2cf063f2404948825ee 100644
--- a/tests/storage/test_base.py
+++ b/tests/storage/test_base.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 
 
-from twisted.trial import unittest
+from tests import unittest
 from twisted.internet import defer
 
 from mock import Mock, call
diff --git a/tests/test_distributor.py b/tests/test_distributor.py
index 04933f0ecf64414f2e644aa2174224b9c7624526..39c5b8dff2ab41c8887ca3922edc39eab0baf7ef 100644
--- a/tests/test_distributor.py
+++ b/tests/test_distributor.py
@@ -13,8 +13,8 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
+from tests import unittest
 from twisted.internet import defer
-from twisted.trial import unittest
 
 from mock import Mock, patch
 
diff --git a/tests/test_state.py b/tests/test_state.py
index 16af95b7bc4b3b11346fe94e4987edda95496692..b1624f0b259df3a1e28b8e8b084484ff31548ff1 100644
--- a/tests/test_state.py
+++ b/tests/test_state.py
@@ -13,8 +13,8 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
+from tests import unittest
 from twisted.internet import defer
-from twisted.trial import unittest
 from twisted.python.log import PythonLoggingObserver
 
 from synapse.state import StateHandler
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ from collections import namedtuple
 
 from mock import Mock
 
-import logging
 import mock
 
 
diff --git a/tests/test_types.py b/tests/test_types.py
index 571938356c4ec15d535605fb27d4fcd9897f88cd..276ecc91fd4ac25b6a92204995a17cfac3f00199 100644
--- a/tests/test_types.py
+++ b/tests/test_types.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
-import unittest
+from tests import unittest
 
 from synapse.server import BaseHomeServer
 from synapse.types import UserID, RoomAlias
diff --git a/tests/unittest.py b/tests/unittest.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..00c3c532eb79d65353f0c83d79a0159b564bffba
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unittest.py
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+# Copyright 2014 OpenMarket Ltd
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+
+from twisted.trial import unittest
+
+import logging
+
+
+# logging doesn't have a "don't log anything at all EVARRRR setting,
+# but since the highest value is 50, 1000000 should do ;)
+NEVER = 1000000
+
+logging.getLogger().addHandler(logging.StreamHandler())
+logging.getLogger().setLevel(NEVER)
+
+
+class TestCase(unittest.TestCase):
+    pass
diff --git a/tests/util/test_lock.py b/tests/util/test_lock.py
index 5623d78423a6e41422bc5d9eea60343ad403abb5..6a1e521b1e1b294dca07dc02d70c968d09e5c1ff 100644
--- a/tests/util/test_lock.py
+++ b/tests/util/test_lock.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 
 
 from twisted.internet import defer
-from twisted.trial import unittest
+from tests import unittest
 
 from synapse.util.lockutils import LockManager
 
@@ -105,4 +105,4 @@ class LockManagerTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
             pass
 
         with (yield self.lock_manager.lock(key)):
-            pass
\ No newline at end of file
+            pass