diff --git a/nbconvert/tests/test_nbconvertapp.py b/nbconvert/tests/test_nbconvertapp.py
index ab55bb6e0..0d2cd4826 100644
--- a/nbconvert/tests/test_nbconvertapp.py
+++ b/nbconvert/tests/test_nbconvertapp.py
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ def test_default_config(self):
         Does the default config work?
         """
         with self.create_temp_cwd(["notebook*.ipynb", "jupyter_nbconvert_config.py"]):
-            self.nbconvert("--log-level 0")
+            self.nbconvert("--log-level 0 --config jupyter_nbconvert_config.py")
             assert os.path.isfile("notebook1.py")
             assert not os.path.isfile("notebook2.py")