diff --git a/veilid-python/tests/__init__.py b/veilid-python/tests/__init__.py
index 6cabbd26..e69de29b 100644
--- a/veilid-python/tests/__init__.py
+++ b/veilid-python/tests/__init__.py
@@ -1,37 +0,0 @@
-import os
-from functools import cache
-from typing import AsyncGenerator
-
-import pytest_asyncio
-import veilid
-from veilid.json_api import _JsonVeilidAPI
-
-pytest_plugins = ("pytest_asyncio",)
-
-
-@cache
-def server_info() -> tuple[str, int]:
-    """Return the hostname and port of the test server."""
-    VEILID_SERVER = os.getenv("VEILID_SERVER")
-    if VEILID_SERVER is None:
-        return "localhost", 5959
-
-    hostname, *rest = VEILID_SERVER.split(":")
-    if rest:
-        return hostname, int(rest[0])
-    return hostname, 5959
-
-
-async def simple_update_callback(update: veilid.VeilidUpdate):
-    print(f"VeilidUpdate: {update}")
-
-
-@pytest_asyncio.fixture
-async def api_connection() -> AsyncGenerator[_JsonVeilidAPI, None]:
-    hostname, port = server_info()
-    api = await veilid.json_api_connect(hostname, port, simple_update_callback)
-    async with api:
-        # purge routes to ensure we start fresh
-        await api.debug("purge routes")
-
-        yield api
diff --git a/veilid-python/tests/conftest.py b/veilid-python/tests/conftest.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6cabbd26
--- /dev/null
+++ b/veilid-python/tests/conftest.py
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+import os
+from functools import cache
+from typing import AsyncGenerator
+
+import pytest_asyncio
+import veilid
+from veilid.json_api import _JsonVeilidAPI
+
+pytest_plugins = ("pytest_asyncio",)
+
+
+@cache
+def server_info() -> tuple[str, int]:
+    """Return the hostname and port of the test server."""
+    VEILID_SERVER = os.getenv("VEILID_SERVER")
+    if VEILID_SERVER is None:
+        return "localhost", 5959
+
+    hostname, *rest = VEILID_SERVER.split(":")
+    if rest:
+        return hostname, int(rest[0])
+    return hostname, 5959
+
+
+async def simple_update_callback(update: veilid.VeilidUpdate):
+    print(f"VeilidUpdate: {update}")
+
+
+@pytest_asyncio.fixture
+async def api_connection() -> AsyncGenerator[_JsonVeilidAPI, None]:
+    hostname, port = server_info()
+    api = await veilid.json_api_connect(hostname, port, simple_update_callback)
+    async with api:
+        # purge routes to ensure we start fresh
+        await api.debug("purge routes")
+
+        yield api
diff --git a/veilid-python/tests/test_basic.py b/veilid-python/tests/test_basic.py
index 20e07466..003ed054 100644
--- a/veilid-python/tests/test_basic.py
+++ b/veilid-python/tests/test_basic.py
@@ -5,9 +5,7 @@ import socket
 import pytest
 import veilid
 
-from . import api_connection, simple_update_callback
-
-##################################################################
+from .conftest import simple_update_callback
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
diff --git a/veilid-python/tests/test_crypto.py b/veilid-python/tests/test_crypto.py
index 81b04d1c..41712e7a 100644
--- a/veilid-python/tests/test_crypto.py
+++ b/veilid-python/tests/test_crypto.py
@@ -4,10 +4,6 @@ import pytest
 import veilid
 from veilid.api import CryptoSystem
 
-from . import api_connection
-
-##################################################################
-
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_best_crypto_system(api_connection):
diff --git a/veilid-python/tests/test_routing_context.py b/veilid-python/tests/test_routing_context.py
index 4ab5f26f..eb730b80 100644
--- a/veilid-python/tests/test_routing_context.py
+++ b/veilid-python/tests/test_routing_context.py
@@ -1,12 +1,11 @@
 # Routing context veilid tests
 
 import asyncio
-import json
 
 import pytest
 import veilid
 
-from . import api_connection, server_info
+from .conftest import server_info
 
 ##################################################################