diff --git a/src/core/NetworkManager.cpp b/src/core/NetworkManager.cpp
index 8fc4c9e06..276eee0aa 100644
--- a/src/core/NetworkManager.cpp
+++ b/src/core/NetworkManager.cpp
@@ -32,4 +32,9 @@ QNetworkAccessManager* getNetMgr()
     }
     return g_netMgr;
 }
+
+NetworkRequestBuilder buildRequest(const QUrl& url)
+{
+    return NetworkRequestBuilder(url);
+}
 #endif
diff --git a/src/core/NetworkManager.h b/src/core/NetworkManager.h
index 1e571d95c..0cc9ad45a 100644
--- a/src/core/NetworkManager.h
+++ b/src/core/NetworkManager.h
@@ -22,9 +22,14 @@
 
 #ifdef WITH_XC_NETWORKING
 
+#include "core/NetworkRequest.h"
+
 class QNetworkAccessManager;
 
 QNetworkAccessManager* getNetMgr();
+
+NetworkRequestBuilder buildRequest(const QUrl& targetUrl);
+
 #else
 Q_STATIC_ASSERT_X(false, "Qt Networking used when WITH_XC_NETWORKING is disabled!");
 #endif
diff --git a/tests/TestNetworkRequest.cpp b/tests/TestNetworkRequest.cpp
index 4cdae043e..8d2adc8f0 100644
--- a/tests/TestNetworkRequest.cpp
+++ b/tests/TestNetworkRequest.cpp
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 #include "TestNetworkRequest.h"
+#include "core/NetworkManager.h"
 #include "core/NetworkRequest.h"
 #include "mock/MockNetworkAccessManager.h"
 #include <QSignalSpy>
@@ -41,7 +42,7 @@ void TestNetworkRequest::testNetworkRequest()
     }
 
     // Create request
-    NetworkRequest request = NetworkRequestBuilder(requestedURL).setManager(&manager).build();
+    NetworkRequest request = buildRequest(requestedURL).setManager(&manager).build();
 
     QString actualContent;
     bool didError = false, didSucceed = false;
@@ -136,7 +137,7 @@ void TestNetworkRequest::testNetworkRequestTimeout()
     reply.withFinishDelayUntil(&timer, &QTimer::timeout);
 
     // Create request
-    NetworkRequest request = NetworkRequestBuilder(requestedURL).setManager(&manager).setTimeout(timeout).build();
+    NetworkRequest request = buildRequest(requestedURL).setManager(&manager).setTimeout(timeout).build();
 
     // Start timer
     timer.start();
@@ -212,7 +213,7 @@ void TestNetworkRequest::testNetworkRequestRedirects()
     reply->withBody(QString{"test-content"}.toUtf8());
 
     // Create request
-    NetworkRequest request = NetworkRequestBuilder(requestedURL).setManager(&manager)
+    NetworkRequest request = buildRequest(requestedURL).setManager(&manager)
                                  .setMaxRedirects(maxRedirects).build();
 
     bool didSucceed = false, didError = false;
@@ -289,7 +290,7 @@ void TestNetworkRequest::testNetworkRequestTimeoutWithRedirects()
     reply->withBody(QString{"test-content"}.toUtf8());
 
     // Create request
-    NetworkRequest request = NetworkRequestBuilder(requestedURL).setManager(&manager)
+    NetworkRequest request = buildRequest(requestedURL).setManager(&manager)
                                  .setTimeout(timeout)
                                  .setMaxRedirects(NetworkRequest::UNLIMITED_REDIRECTS).build();