diff --git a/tests/test_async.py b/tests/test_async.py
index b51429f6..09604b5c 100755
--- a/tests/test_async.py
+++ b/tests/test_async.py
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ import time
 import select
 import StringIO
 
-from testconfig import dsn
+from testutils import ConnectingTestCase
 
 class PollableStub(object):
     """A 'pollable' wrapper allowing analysis of the `poll()` calls."""
@@ -49,11 +49,13 @@ class PollableStub(object):
         return rv
 
 
-class AsyncTests(unittest.TestCase):
+class AsyncTests(ConnectingTestCase):
 
     def setUp(self):
-        self.sync_conn = psycopg2.connect(dsn)
-        self.conn = psycopg2.connect(dsn, async=True)
+        ConnectingTestCase.setUp(self)
+
+        self.sync_conn = self.conn
+        self.conn = self.connect(async=True)
 
         self.wait(self.conn)
 
@@ -64,10 +66,6 @@ class AsyncTests(unittest.TestCase):
             )''')
         self.wait(curs)
 
-    def tearDown(self):
-        self.sync_conn.close()
-        self.conn.close()
-
     def wait(self, cur_or_conn):
         pollable = cur_or_conn
         if not hasattr(pollable, 'poll'):
@@ -328,7 +326,7 @@ class AsyncTests(unittest.TestCase):
             def __init__(self, dsn, async=0):
                 psycopg2.extensions.connection.__init__(self, dsn, async=async)
 
-        conn = psycopg2.connect(dsn, connection_factory=MyConn, async=True)
+        conn = self.connect(connection_factory=MyConn, async=True)
         self.assert_(isinstance(conn, MyConn))
         self.assert_(conn.async)
         conn.close()
diff --git a/tests/test_bug_gc.py b/tests/test_bug_gc.py
index 798b7e77..1551dc47 100755
--- a/tests/test_bug_gc.py
+++ b/tests/test_bug_gc.py
@@ -24,21 +24,12 @@
 
 import psycopg2
 import psycopg2.extensions
-import time
 import unittest
 import gc
 
-from testconfig import dsn
-
-from testutils import skip_if_no_uuid
-
-class StolenReferenceTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
-    def setUp(self):
-        self.conn = psycopg2.connect(dsn)
-
-    def tearDown(self):
-        self.conn.close()
+from testutils import ConnectingTestCase, skip_if_no_uuid
 
+class StolenReferenceTestCase(ConnectingTestCase):
     @skip_if_no_uuid
     def test_stolen_reference_bug(self):
         def fish(val, cur):
diff --git a/tests/test_cancel.py b/tests/test_cancel.py
index 6d58ddcf..0ffa742a 100755
--- a/tests/test_cancel.py
+++ b/tests/test_cancel.py
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@
 # FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU Lesser General Public
 # License for more details.
 
-import time
 import threading
 
 import psycopg2
@@ -31,12 +30,13 @@ import psycopg2.extensions
 from psycopg2 import extras
 
 from testconfig import dsn
-from testutils import unittest, skip_before_postgres
+from testutils import unittest, ConnectingTestCase, skip_before_postgres
 
-class CancelTests(unittest.TestCase):
+class CancelTests(ConnectingTestCase):
 
     def setUp(self):
-        self.conn = psycopg2.connect(dsn)
+        ConnectingTestCase.setUp(self)
+
         cur = self.conn.cursor()
         cur.execute('''
             CREATE TEMPORARY TABLE table1 (
@@ -44,9 +44,6 @@ class CancelTests(unittest.TestCase):
             )''')
         self.conn.commit()
 
-    def tearDown(self):
-        self.conn.close()
-
     def test_empty_cancel(self):
         self.conn.cancel()
 
diff --git a/tests/test_connection.py b/tests/test_connection.py
index ca20868b..c5d884c5 100755
--- a/tests/test_connection.py
+++ b/tests/test_connection.py
@@ -25,24 +25,19 @@
 import os
 import time
 import threading
-from testutils import unittest, decorate_all_tests
-from testutils import skip_before_postgres, skip_after_postgres, skip_if_no_superuser
 from operator import attrgetter
 
 import psycopg2
 import psycopg2.errorcodes
 import psycopg2.extensions
+
+from testutils import unittest, decorate_all_tests, skip_if_no_superuser
+from testutils import skip_before_postgres, skip_after_postgres
+from testutils import ConnectingTestCase, skip_if_tpc_disabled
 from testconfig import dsn, dbname
 
-class ConnectionTests(unittest.TestCase):
-
-    def setUp(self):
-        self.conn = psycopg2.connect(dsn)
-
-    def tearDown(self):
-        if not self.conn.closed:
-            self.conn.close()
 
+class ConnectionTests(ConnectingTestCase):
     def test_closed_attribute(self):
         conn = self.conn
         self.assertEqual(conn.closed, False)
@@ -153,7 +148,7 @@ class ConnectionTests(unittest.TestCase):
     @skip_before_postgres(8, 2)
     def test_concurrent_execution(self):
         def slave():
-            cnn = psycopg2.connect(dsn)
+            cnn = self.connect()
             cur = cnn.cursor()
             cur.execute("select pg_sleep(4)")
             cur.close()
@@ -183,7 +178,7 @@ class ConnectionTests(unittest.TestCase):
         oldenc = os.environ.get('PGCLIENTENCODING')
         os.environ['PGCLIENTENCODING'] = 'utf-8'    # malformed spelling
         try:
-            self.conn = psycopg2.connect(dsn)
+            self.conn = self.connect()
         finally:
             if oldenc is not None:
                 os.environ['PGCLIENTENCODING'] = oldenc
@@ -230,10 +225,11 @@ class ConnectionTests(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assert_(not notices, "%d notices raised" % len(notices))
 
 
-class IsolationLevelsTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
+class IsolationLevelsTestCase(ConnectingTestCase):
 
     def setUp(self):
-        self._conns = []
+        ConnectingTestCase.setUp(self)
+
         conn = self.connect()
         cur = conn.cursor()
         try:
@@ -244,17 +240,6 @@ class IsolationLevelsTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
         conn.commit()
         conn.close()
 
-    def tearDown(self):
-        # close the connections used in the test
-        for conn in self._conns:
-            if not conn.closed:
-                conn.close()
-
-    def connect(self):
-        conn = psycopg2.connect(dsn)
-        self._conns.append(conn)
-        return conn
-
     def test_isolation_level(self):
         conn = self.connect()
         self.assertEqual(
@@ -420,20 +405,16 @@ class IsolationLevelsTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
             cnn.set_isolation_level, 1)
 
 
-class ConnectionTwoPhaseTests(unittest.TestCase):
+class ConnectionTwoPhaseTests(ConnectingTestCase):
     def setUp(self):
-        self._conns = []
+        ConnectingTestCase.setUp(self)
 
         self.make_test_table()
         self.clear_test_xacts()
 
     def tearDown(self):
         self.clear_test_xacts()
-
-        # close the connections used in the test
-        for conn in self._conns:
-            if not conn.closed:
-                conn.close()
+        ConnectingTestCase.tearDown(self)
 
     def clear_test_xacts(self):
         """Rollback all the prepared transaction in the testing db."""
@@ -486,11 +467,6 @@ class ConnectionTwoPhaseTests(unittest.TestCase):
         cnn.close()
         return rv
 
-    def connect(self, **kwargs):
-        conn = psycopg2.connect(dsn, **kwargs)
-        self._conns.append(conn)
-        return conn
-
     def test_tpc_commit(self):
         cnn = self.connect()
         xid = cnn.xid(1, "gtrid", "bqual")
@@ -802,18 +778,10 @@ class ConnectionTwoPhaseTests(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(None, xid.bqual)
 
 
-from testutils import skip_if_tpc_disabled
 decorate_all_tests(ConnectionTwoPhaseTests, skip_if_tpc_disabled)
 
 
-class TransactionControlTests(unittest.TestCase):
-    def setUp(self):
-        self.conn = psycopg2.connect(dsn)
-
-    def tearDown(self):
-        if not self.conn.closed:
-            self.conn.close()
-
+class TransactionControlTests(ConnectingTestCase):
     def test_closed(self):
         self.conn.close()
         self.assertRaises(psycopg2.InterfaceError,
@@ -955,14 +923,7 @@ class TransactionControlTests(unittest.TestCase):
             self.conn.set_session, readonly=True, deferrable=True)
 
 
-class AutocommitTests(unittest.TestCase):
-    def setUp(self):
-        self.conn = psycopg2.connect(dsn)
-
-    def tearDown(self):
-        if not self.conn.closed:
-            self.conn.close()
-
+class AutocommitTests(ConnectingTestCase):
     def test_closed(self):
         self.conn.close()
         self.assertRaises(psycopg2.InterfaceError,
diff --git a/tests/test_copy.py b/tests/test_copy.py
index bc1cab33..fd6c14a1 100755
--- a/tests/test_copy.py
+++ b/tests/test_copy.py
@@ -24,13 +24,13 @@
 
 import sys
 import string
-from testutils import unittest, decorate_all_tests, skip_if_no_iobase
+from testutils import unittest, ConnectingTestCase, decorate_all_tests
+from testutils import skip_if_no_iobase
 from cStringIO import StringIO
 from itertools import cycle, izip
 
 import psycopg2
 import psycopg2.extensions
-from testconfig import dsn
 from testutils import skip_copy_if_green
 
 if sys.version_info[0] < 3:
@@ -58,10 +58,10 @@ class MinimalWrite(_base):
         return self.f.write(data)
 
 
-class CopyTests(unittest.TestCase):
+class CopyTests(ConnectingTestCase):
 
     def setUp(self):
-        self.conn = psycopg2.connect(dsn)
+        ConnectingTestCase.setUp(self)
         self._create_temp_table()
 
     def _create_temp_table(self):
@@ -72,9 +72,6 @@ class CopyTests(unittest.TestCase):
               data text
             )''')
 
-    def tearDown(self):
-        self.conn.close()
-
     def test_copy_from(self):
         curs = self.conn.cursor()
         try:
diff --git a/tests/test_cursor.py b/tests/test_cursor.py
index e57dd5a9..893f3970 100755
--- a/tests/test_cursor.py
+++ b/tests/test_cursor.py
@@ -26,16 +26,10 @@ import time
 import psycopg2
 import psycopg2.extensions
 from psycopg2.extensions import b
-from testconfig import dsn
-from testutils import unittest, skip_before_postgres, skip_if_no_namedtuple
+from testutils import unittest, ConnectingTestCase, skip_before_postgres
+from testutils import skip_if_no_namedtuple
 
-class CursorTests(unittest.TestCase):
-
-    def setUp(self):
-        self.conn = psycopg2.connect(dsn)
-
-    def tearDown(self):
-        self.conn.close()
+class CursorTests(ConnectingTestCase):
 
     def test_close_idempotent(self):
         cur = self.conn.cursor()
diff --git a/tests/test_dates.py b/tests/test_dates.py
index 0d18f663..cc183c57 100755
--- a/tests/test_dates.py
+++ b/tests/test_dates.py
@@ -23,10 +23,9 @@
 # License for more details.
 
 import math
-import unittest
 import psycopg2
 from psycopg2.tz import FixedOffsetTimezone, ZERO
-from testconfig import dsn
+from testutils import unittest, ConnectingTestCase
 
 class CommonDatetimeTestsMixin:
 
@@ -93,20 +92,17 @@ class CommonDatetimeTestsMixin:
         self.assertEqual(value, None)
 
 
-class DatetimeTests(unittest.TestCase, CommonDatetimeTestsMixin):
+class DatetimeTests(ConnectingTestCase, CommonDatetimeTestsMixin):
     """Tests for the datetime based date handling in psycopg2."""
 
     def setUp(self):
-        self.conn = psycopg2.connect(dsn)
+        ConnectingTestCase.setUp(self)
         self.curs = self.conn.cursor()
         self.DATE = psycopg2.extensions.PYDATE
         self.TIME = psycopg2.extensions.PYTIME
         self.DATETIME = psycopg2.extensions.PYDATETIME
         self.INTERVAL = psycopg2.extensions.PYINTERVAL
 
-    def tearDown(self):
-        self.conn.close()
-
     def test_parse_bc_date(self):
         # datetime does not support BC dates
         self.assertRaises(ValueError, self.DATE, '00042-01-01 BC', self.curs)
@@ -311,11 +307,11 @@ if not hasattr(psycopg2.extensions, 'PYDATETIME'):
     del DatetimeTests
 
 
-class mxDateTimeTests(unittest.TestCase, CommonDatetimeTestsMixin):
+class mxDateTimeTests(ConnectingTestCase, CommonDatetimeTestsMixin):
     """Tests for the mx.DateTime based date handling in psycopg2."""
 
     def setUp(self):
-        self.conn = psycopg2.connect(dsn)
+        ConnectingTestCase.setUp(self)
         self.curs = self.conn.cursor()
         self.DATE = psycopg2._psycopg.MXDATE
         self.TIME = psycopg2._psycopg.MXTIME
@@ -557,6 +553,7 @@ class FixedOffsetTimezoneTests(unittest.TestCase):
             self.assertEqual(tz11, tz21)
             self.assertEqual(tz12, tz22)
 
+
 def test_suite():
     return unittest.TestLoader().loadTestsFromName(__name__)
 
diff --git a/tests/test_extras_dictcursor.py b/tests/test_extras_dictcursor.py
index 4846deae..f2feffff 100755
--- a/tests/test_extras_dictcursor.py
+++ b/tests/test_extras_dictcursor.py
@@ -18,26 +18,23 @@ import time
 from datetime import timedelta
 import psycopg2
 import psycopg2.extras
-from testutils import unittest, skip_before_postgres, skip_if_no_namedtuple
-from testconfig import dsn
+from testutils import unittest, ConnectingTestCase, skip_before_postgres
+from testutils import skip_if_no_namedtuple
 
 
-class ExtrasDictCursorTests(unittest.TestCase):
+class ExtrasDictCursorTests(ConnectingTestCase):
     """Test if DictCursor extension class works."""
 
     def setUp(self):
-        self.conn = psycopg2.connect(dsn)
+        ConnectingTestCase.setUp(self)
         curs = self.conn.cursor()
         curs.execute("CREATE TEMPORARY TABLE ExtrasDictCursorTests (foo text)")
         curs.execute("INSERT INTO ExtrasDictCursorTests VALUES ('bar')")
         self.conn.commit()
 
-    def tearDown(self):
-        self.conn.close()
-
     def testDictConnCursorArgs(self):
         self.conn.close()
-        self.conn = psycopg2.connect(dsn, connection_factory=psycopg2.extras.DictConnection)
+        self.conn = self.connect(connection_factory=psycopg2.extras.DictConnection)
         cur = self.conn.cursor()
         self.assert_(isinstance(cur, psycopg2.extras.DictCursor))
         self.assertEqual(cur.name, None)
@@ -232,18 +229,17 @@ class ExtrasDictCursorTests(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(r._column_mapping, r1._column_mapping)
 
 
-class NamedTupleCursorTest(unittest.TestCase):
+class NamedTupleCursorTest(ConnectingTestCase):
     def setUp(self):
+        ConnectingTestCase.setUp(self)
         from psycopg2.extras import NamedTupleConnection
 
         try:
             from collections import namedtuple
         except ImportError:
-            self.conn = None
             return
 
-        self.conn = psycopg2.connect(dsn,
-            connection_factory=NamedTupleConnection)
+        self.conn = self.connect(connection_factory=NamedTupleConnection)
         curs = self.conn.cursor()
         curs.execute("CREATE TEMPORARY TABLE nttest (i int, s text)")
         curs.execute("INSERT INTO nttest VALUES (1, 'foo')")
@@ -251,10 +247,6 @@ class NamedTupleCursorTest(unittest.TestCase):
         curs.execute("INSERT INTO nttest VALUES (3, 'baz')")
         self.conn.commit()
 
-    def tearDown(self):
-        if self.conn is not None:
-            self.conn.close()
-
     @skip_if_no_namedtuple
     def test_cursor_args(self):
         cur = self.conn.cursor('foo', cursor_factory=psycopg2.extras.DictCursor)
@@ -359,9 +351,7 @@ class NamedTupleCursorTest(unittest.TestCase):
             # an import error somewhere
             from psycopg2.extras import NamedTupleConnection
             try:
-                if self.conn is not None:
-                    self.conn.close()
-                self.conn = psycopg2.connect(dsn,
+                self.conn = self.connect(
                     connection_factory=NamedTupleConnection)
                 curs = self.conn.cursor()
                 curs.execute("select 1")
@@ -371,8 +361,7 @@ class NamedTupleCursorTest(unittest.TestCase):
             else:
                 self.fail("expecting ImportError")
         else:
-            # skip the test
-            pass
+            return self.skipTest("namedtuple available")
 
     @skip_if_no_namedtuple
     def test_record_updated(self):
diff --git a/tests/test_green.py b/tests/test_green.py
index e0cd57de..506b38fe 100755
--- a/tests/test_green.py
+++ b/tests/test_green.py
@@ -26,7 +26,8 @@ import unittest
 import psycopg2
 import psycopg2.extensions
 import psycopg2.extras
-from testconfig import dsn
+
+from testutils import ConnectingTestCase
 
 class ConnectionStub(object):
     """A `connection` wrapper allowing analysis of the `poll()` calls."""
@@ -42,14 +43,14 @@ class ConnectionStub(object):
         self.polls.append(rv)
         return rv
 
-class GreenTests(unittest.TestCase):
+class GreenTestCase(ConnectingTestCase):
     def setUp(self):
         self._cb = psycopg2.extensions.get_wait_callback()
         psycopg2.extensions.set_wait_callback(psycopg2.extras.wait_select)
-        self.conn = psycopg2.connect(dsn)
+        ConnectingTestCase.setUp(self)
 
     def tearDown(self):
-        self.conn.close()
+        ConnectingTestCase.tearDown(self)
         psycopg2.extensions.set_wait_callback(self._cb)
 
     def set_stub_wait_callback(self, conn):
diff --git a/tests/test_lobject.py b/tests/test_lobject.py
index ed093711..83e9e73c 100755
--- a/tests/test_lobject.py
+++ b/tests/test_lobject.py
@@ -30,9 +30,8 @@ from functools import wraps
 import psycopg2
 import psycopg2.extensions
 from psycopg2.extensions import b
-from testconfig import dsn
 from testutils import unittest, decorate_all_tests, skip_if_tpc_disabled
-from testutils import skip_if_green
+from testutils import ConnectingTestCase, skip_if_green
 
 def skip_if_no_lo(f):
     @wraps(f)
@@ -47,10 +46,9 @@ def skip_if_no_lo(f):
 skip_lo_if_green = skip_if_green("libpq doesn't support LO in async mode")
 
 
-class LargeObjectMixin(object):
-    # doesn't derive from TestCase to avoid repeating tests twice.
+class LargeObjectTestCase(ConnectingTestCase):
     def setUp(self):
-        self.conn = self.connect()
+        ConnectingTestCase.setUp(self)
         self.lo_oid = None
         self.tmpdir = None
 
@@ -69,13 +67,11 @@ class LargeObjectMixin(object):
                 pass
             else:
                 lo.unlink()
-        self.conn.close()
 
-    def connect(self):
-        return psycopg2.connect(dsn)
+        ConnectingTestCase.tearDown(self)
 
 
-class LargeObjectTests(LargeObjectMixin, unittest.TestCase):
+class LargeObjectTests(LargeObjectTestCase):
     def test_create(self):
         lo = self.conn.lobject()
         self.assertNotEqual(lo, None)
@@ -374,8 +370,7 @@ class LargeObjectTests(LargeObjectMixin, unittest.TestCase):
             self.conn.tpc_commit()
 
 
-decorate_all_tests(LargeObjectTests, skip_if_no_lo)
-decorate_all_tests(LargeObjectTests, skip_lo_if_green)
+decorate_all_tests(LargeObjectTests, skip_if_no_lo, skip_lo_if_green)
 
 
 def skip_if_no_truncate(f):
@@ -394,7 +389,7 @@ def skip_if_no_truncate(f):
 
     return skip_if_no_truncate_
 
-class LargeObjectTruncateTests(LargeObjectMixin, unittest.TestCase):
+class LargeObjectTruncateTests(LargeObjectTestCase):
     def test_truncate(self):
         lo = self.conn.lobject()
         lo.write("some data")
@@ -430,9 +425,8 @@ class LargeObjectTruncateTests(LargeObjectMixin, unittest.TestCase):
 
         self.assertRaises(psycopg2.ProgrammingError, lo.truncate)
 
-decorate_all_tests(LargeObjectTruncateTests, skip_if_no_lo)
-decorate_all_tests(LargeObjectTruncateTests, skip_lo_if_green)
-decorate_all_tests(LargeObjectTruncateTests, skip_if_no_truncate)
+decorate_all_tests(LargeObjectTruncateTests,
+    skip_if_no_lo, skip_lo_if_green, skip_if_no_truncate)
 
 
 def test_suite():
diff --git a/tests/test_module.py b/tests/test_module.py
index c65c019e..e6d1a3d5 100755
--- a/tests/test_module.py
+++ b/tests/test_module.py
@@ -23,9 +23,7 @@
 # License for more details.
 
 from testutils import unittest, skip_before_python, skip_before_postgres
-from testutils import skip_copy_if_green
-
-from testconfig import dsn
+from testutils import ConnectingTestCase, skip_copy_if_green
 
 import psycopg2
 
@@ -138,13 +136,7 @@ class ConnectTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
             psycopg2.connect, 'dbname=foo', no_such_param='meh')
 
 
-class ExceptionsTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
-    def setUp(self):
-        self.conn = psycopg2.connect(dsn)
-
-    def tearDown(self):
-        self.conn.close()
-
+class ExceptionsTestCase(ConnectingTestCase):
     def test_attributes(self):
         cur = self.conn.cursor()
         try:
diff --git a/tests/test_notify.py b/tests/test_notify.py
index 5b1b112a..d048241d 100755
--- a/tests/test_notify.py
+++ b/tests/test_notify.py
@@ -26,23 +26,16 @@ from testutils import unittest
 
 import psycopg2
 from psycopg2 import extensions
+from testutils import ConnectingTestCase, script_to_py3
 from testconfig import dsn
-from testutils import script_to_py3
 
 import sys
 import time
 import select
-import signal
 from subprocess import Popen, PIPE
 
 
-class NotifiesTests(unittest.TestCase):
-
-    def setUp(self):
-        self.conn = psycopg2.connect(dsn)
-
-    def tearDown(self):
-        self.conn.close()
+class NotifiesTests(ConnectingTestCase):
 
     def autocommit(self, conn):
         """Set a connection in autocommit mode."""
diff --git a/tests/test_quote.py b/tests/test_quote.py
index 21b0d3f8..e7b3c316 100755
--- a/tests/test_quote.py
+++ b/tests/test_quote.py
@@ -23,14 +23,13 @@
 # License for more details.
 
 import sys
-from testutils import unittest
-from testconfig import dsn
+from testutils import unittest, ConnectingTestCase
 
 import psycopg2
 import psycopg2.extensions
 from psycopg2.extensions import b
 
-class QuotingTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
+class QuotingTestCase(ConnectingTestCase):
     r"""Checks the correct quoting of strings and binary objects.
 
     Since ver. 8.1, PostgreSQL is moving towards SQL standard conforming
@@ -48,12 +47,6 @@ class QuotingTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
     http://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/static/sql-syntax-lexical.html#SQL-SYNTAX-STRINGS
     http://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/static/runtime-config-compatible.html
     """
-    def setUp(self):
-        self.conn = psycopg2.connect(dsn)
-
-    def tearDown(self):
-        self.conn.close()
-
     def test_string(self):
         data = """some data with \t chars
         to escape into, 'quotes' and \\ a backslash too.
@@ -162,13 +155,7 @@ class QuotingTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
             self.assert_(not self.conn.notices)
 
 
-class TestQuotedString(unittest.TestCase):
-    def setUp(self):
-        self.conn = psycopg2.connect(dsn)
-
-    def tearDown(self):
-        self.conn.close()
-
+class TestQuotedString(ConnectingTestCase):
     def test_encoding(self):
         q = psycopg2.extensions.QuotedString('hi')
         self.assertEqual(q.encoding, 'latin1')
diff --git a/tests/test_transaction.py b/tests/test_transaction.py
index 90e159a6..724d0d80 100755
--- a/tests/test_transaction.py
+++ b/tests/test_transaction.py
@@ -23,17 +23,16 @@
 # License for more details.
 
 import threading
-from testutils import unittest, skip_before_postgres
+from testutils import unittest, ConnectingTestCase, skip_before_postgres
 
 import psycopg2
 from psycopg2.extensions import (
     ISOLATION_LEVEL_SERIALIZABLE, STATUS_BEGIN, STATUS_READY)
-from testconfig import dsn
 
-class TransactionTests(unittest.TestCase):
+class TransactionTests(ConnectingTestCase):
 
     def setUp(self):
-        self.conn = psycopg2.connect(dsn)
+        ConnectingTestCase.setUp(self)
         self.conn.set_isolation_level(ISOLATION_LEVEL_SERIALIZABLE)
         curs = self.conn.cursor()
         curs.execute('''
@@ -51,9 +50,6 @@ class TransactionTests(unittest.TestCase):
         curs.execute('INSERT INTO table2 VALUES (1, 1)')
         self.conn.commit()
 
-    def tearDown(self):
-        self.conn.close()
-
     def test_rollback(self):
         # Test that rollback undoes changes
         curs = self.conn.cursor()
@@ -93,16 +89,17 @@ class TransactionTests(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(curs.fetchone()[0], 1)
 
 
-class DeadlockSerializationTests(unittest.TestCase):
+class DeadlockSerializationTests(ConnectingTestCase):
     """Test deadlock and serialization failure errors."""
 
     def connect(self):
-        conn = psycopg2.connect(dsn)
+        conn = ConnectingTestCase.connect(self)
         conn.set_isolation_level(ISOLATION_LEVEL_SERIALIZABLE)
         return conn
 
     def setUp(self):
-        self.conn = self.connect()
+        ConnectingTestCase.setUp(self)
+
         curs = self.conn.cursor()
         # Drop table if it already exists
         try:
@@ -130,7 +127,8 @@ class DeadlockSerializationTests(unittest.TestCase):
         curs.execute("DROP TABLE table1")
         curs.execute("DROP TABLE table2")
         self.conn.commit()
-        self.conn.close()
+
+        ConnectingTestCase.tearDown(self)
 
     def test_deadlock(self):
         self.thread1_error = self.thread2_error = None
@@ -226,16 +224,13 @@ class DeadlockSerializationTests(unittest.TestCase):
                 error, psycopg2.extensions.TransactionRollbackError))
 
 
-class QueryCancellationTests(unittest.TestCase):
+class QueryCancellationTests(ConnectingTestCase):
     """Tests for query cancellation."""
 
     def setUp(self):
-        self.conn = psycopg2.connect(dsn)
+        ConnectingTestCase.setUp(self)
         self.conn.set_isolation_level(ISOLATION_LEVEL_SERIALIZABLE)
 
-    def tearDown(self):
-        self.conn.close()
-
     @skip_before_postgres(8, 2)
     def test_statement_timeout(self):
         curs = self.conn.cursor()
diff --git a/tests/test_types_basic.py b/tests/test_types_basic.py
index 6f7294ee..6c4cc970 100755
--- a/tests/test_types_basic.py
+++ b/tests/test_types_basic.py
@@ -27,22 +27,15 @@ import decimal
 import sys
 from functools import wraps
 import testutils
-from testutils import unittest, decorate_all_tests
-from testconfig import dsn
+from testutils import unittest, ConnectingTestCase, decorate_all_tests
 
 import psycopg2
 from psycopg2.extensions import b
 
 
-class TypesBasicTests(unittest.TestCase):
+class TypesBasicTests(ConnectingTestCase):
     """Test that all type conversions are working."""
 
-    def setUp(self):
-        self.conn = psycopg2.connect(dsn)
-
-    def tearDown(self):
-        self.conn.close()
-
     def execute(self, *args):
         curs = self.conn.cursor()
         curs.execute(*args)
diff --git a/tests/test_types_extras.py b/tests/test_types_extras.py
index 1b26c9e3..98fbbadf 100755
--- a/tests/test_types_extras.py
+++ b/tests/test_types_extras.py
@@ -21,14 +21,12 @@ from datetime import date, datetime
 from functools import wraps
 
 from testutils import unittest, skip_if_no_uuid, skip_before_postgres
-from testutils import decorate_all_tests
+from testutils import ConnectingTestCase, decorate_all_tests
 
 import psycopg2
 import psycopg2.extras
 from psycopg2.extensions import b
 
-from testconfig import dsn
-
 
 def filter_scs(conn, s):
     if conn.get_parameter_status("standard_conforming_strings") == 'off':
@@ -36,15 +34,9 @@ def filter_scs(conn, s):
     else:
         return s.replace(b("E'"), b("'"))
 
-class TypesExtrasTests(unittest.TestCase):
+class TypesExtrasTests(ConnectingTestCase):
     """Test that all type conversions are working."""
 
-    def setUp(self):
-        self.conn = psycopg2.connect(dsn)
-
-    def tearDown(self):
-        self.conn.close()
-
     def execute(self, *args):
         curs = self.conn.cursor()
         curs.execute(*args)
@@ -135,13 +127,7 @@ def skip_if_no_hstore(f):
 
     return skip_if_no_hstore_
 
-class HstoreTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
-    def setUp(self):
-        self.conn = psycopg2.connect(dsn)
-
-    def tearDown(self):
-        self.conn.close()
-
+class HstoreTestCase(ConnectingTestCase):
     def test_adapt_8(self):
         if self.conn.server_version >= 90000:
             return self.skipTest("skipping dict adaptation with PG pre-9 syntax")
@@ -276,7 +262,7 @@ class HstoreTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
         oids = HstoreAdapter.get_oids(self.conn)
         try:
             register_hstore(self.conn, globally=True)
-            conn2 = psycopg2.connect(dsn)
+            conn2 = self.connect()
             try:
                 cur2 = self.conn.cursor()
                 cur2.execute("select 'a => b'::hstore")
@@ -429,7 +415,7 @@ class HstoreTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
         from psycopg2.extras import RealDictConnection
         from psycopg2.extras import register_hstore
 
-        conn = psycopg2.connect(dsn, connection_factory=RealDictConnection)
+        conn = self.connect(connection_factory=RealDictConnection)
         try:
             register_hstore(conn)
             curs = conn.cursor()
@@ -438,7 +424,7 @@ class HstoreTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
         finally:
             conn.close()
 
-        conn = psycopg2.connect(dsn, connection_factory=RealDictConnection)
+        conn = self.connect(connection_factory=RealDictConnection)
         try:
             curs = conn.cursor()
             register_hstore(curs)
@@ -460,13 +446,7 @@ def skip_if_no_composite(f):
 
     return skip_if_no_composite_
 
-class AdaptTypeTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
-    def setUp(self):
-        self.conn = psycopg2.connect(dsn)
-
-    def tearDown(self):
-        self.conn.close()
-
+class AdaptTypeTestCase(ConnectingTestCase):
     @skip_if_no_composite
     def test_none_in_record(self):
         curs = self.conn.cursor()
@@ -621,8 +601,8 @@ class AdaptTypeTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_register_on_connection(self):
         self._create_type("type_ii", [("a", "integer"), ("b", "integer")])
 
-        conn1 = psycopg2.connect(dsn)
-        conn2 = psycopg2.connect(dsn)
+        conn1 = self.connect()
+        conn2 = self.connect()
         try:
             psycopg2.extras.register_composite("type_ii", conn1)
             curs1 = conn1.cursor()
@@ -639,8 +619,8 @@ class AdaptTypeTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_register_globally(self):
         self._create_type("type_ii", [("a", "integer"), ("b", "integer")])
 
-        conn1 = psycopg2.connect(dsn)
-        conn2 = psycopg2.connect(dsn)
+        conn1 = self.connect()
+        conn2 = self.connect()
         try:
             t = psycopg2.extras.register_composite("type_ii", conn1, globally=True)
             try:
@@ -765,7 +745,7 @@ class AdaptTypeTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
         from psycopg2.extras import register_composite
         self._create_type("type_ii", [("a", "integer"), ("b", "integer")])
 
-        conn = psycopg2.connect(dsn, connection_factory=RealDictConnection)
+        conn = self.connect(connection_factory=RealDictConnection)
         try:
             register_composite('type_ii', conn)
             curs = conn.cursor()
@@ -774,7 +754,7 @@ class AdaptTypeTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
         finally:
             conn.close()
 
-        conn = psycopg2.connect(dsn, connection_factory=RealDictConnection)
+        conn = self.connect(connection_factory=RealDictConnection)
         try:
             curs = conn.cursor()
             register_composite('type_ii', conn)
@@ -867,13 +847,7 @@ def skip_if_no_json_type(f):
 
     return skip_if_no_json_type_
 
-class JsonTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
-    def setUp(self):
-        self.conn = psycopg2.connect(dsn)
-
-    def tearDown(self):
-        self.conn.close()
-
+class JsonTestCase(ConnectingTestCase):
     @skip_if_json_module
     def test_module_not_available(self):
         from psycopg2.extras import Json
@@ -1259,12 +1233,7 @@ def skip_if_no_range(f):
     return skip_if_no_range_
 
 
-class RangeCasterTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
-    def setUp(self):
-        self.conn = psycopg2.connect(dsn)
-
-    def tearDown(self):
-        self.conn.close()
+class RangeCasterTestCase(ConnectingTestCase):
 
     builtin_ranges = ('int4range', 'int8range', 'numrange',
         'daterange', 'tsrange', 'tstzrange')
diff --git a/tests/test_with.py b/tests/test_with.py
index f43e6db4..d39016c6 100755
--- a/tests/test_with.py
+++ b/tests/test_with.py
@@ -28,27 +28,23 @@ from __future__ import with_statement
 import psycopg2
 import psycopg2.extensions as ext
 
-from testconfig import dsn
-from testutils import unittest
+from testutils import unittest, ConnectingTestCase
 
-class TestMixin(object):
+class WithTestCase(ConnectingTestCase):
     def setUp(self):
-        self.conn = conn = psycopg2.connect(dsn)
-        curs = conn.cursor()
+        ConnectingTestCase.setUp(self)
+        curs = self.conn.cursor()
         try:
             curs.execute("delete from test_with")
-            conn.commit()
+            self.conn.commit()
         except psycopg2.ProgrammingError:
             # assume table doesn't exist
-            conn.rollback()
+            self.conn.rollback()
             curs.execute("create table test_with (id integer primary key)")
-            conn.commit()
-
-    def tearDown(self):
-        self.conn.close()
+            self.conn.commit()
 
 
-class WithConnectionTestCase(TestMixin, unittest.TestCase):
+class WithConnectionTestCase(WithTestCase):
     def test_with_ok(self):
         with self.conn as conn:
             self.assert_(self.conn is conn)
@@ -65,7 +61,7 @@ class WithConnectionTestCase(TestMixin, unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(curs.fetchall(), [(1,)])
 
     def test_with_connect_idiom(self):
-        with psycopg2.connect(dsn) as conn:
+        with self.connect() as conn:
             self.assertEqual(conn.status, ext.STATUS_READY)
             curs = conn.cursor()
             curs.execute("insert into test_with values (2)")
@@ -122,7 +118,7 @@ class WithConnectionTestCase(TestMixin, unittest.TestCase):
                 commits.append(None)
                 super(MyConn, self).commit()
 
-        with psycopg2.connect(dsn, connection_factory=MyConn) as conn:
+        with self.connect(connection_factory=MyConn) as conn:
             curs = conn.cursor()
             curs.execute("insert into test_with values (10)")
 
@@ -141,7 +137,7 @@ class WithConnectionTestCase(TestMixin, unittest.TestCase):
                 super(MyConn, self).rollback()
 
         try:
-            with psycopg2.connect(dsn, connection_factory=MyConn) as conn:
+            with self.connect(connection_factory=MyConn) as conn:
                 curs = conn.cursor()
                 curs.execute("insert into test_with values (11)")
                 1/0
@@ -158,7 +154,7 @@ class WithConnectionTestCase(TestMixin, unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(curs.fetchall(), [])
 
 
-class WithCursorTestCase(TestMixin, unittest.TestCase):
+class WithCursorTestCase(WithTestCase):
     def test_with_ok(self):
         with self.conn as conn:
             with conn.cursor() as curs:
diff --git a/tests/testutils.py b/tests/testutils.py
index 26b8d815..1e2e150f 100644
--- a/tests/testutils.py
+++ b/tests/testutils.py
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 import os
 import sys
 from functools import wraps
+from testconfig import dsn
 
 try:
     import unittest2
@@ -74,11 +75,57 @@ or unittest.TestCase.assert_ is not unittest.TestCase.assertTrue:
     unittest.TestCase.failUnlessEqual = unittest.TestCase.assertEqual
 
 
-def decorate_all_tests(cls, decorator):
-    """Apply *decorator* to all the tests defined in the TestCase *cls*."""
+class ConnectingTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
+    """A test case providing connections for tests.
+
+    A connection for the test is always available as `self.conn`. Others can be
+    created with `self.connect()`. All are closed on tearDown.
+
+    Subclasses needing to customize setUp and tearDown should remember to call
+    the base class implementations.
+    """
+    def setUp(self):
+        self._conns = []
+
+    def tearDown(self):
+        # close the connections used in the test
+        for conn in self._conns:
+            if not conn.closed:
+                conn.close()
+
+    def connect(self, **kwargs):
+        try:
+            self._conns
+        except AttributeError, e:
+            raise AttributeError(
+                "%s (did you remember calling ConnectingTestCase.setUp()?)"
+                % e)
+
+        import psycopg2
+        conn = psycopg2.connect(dsn, **kwargs)
+        self._conns.append(conn)
+        return conn
+
+    def _get_conn(self):
+        if not hasattr(self, '_the_conn'):
+            self._the_conn = self.connect()
+
+        return self._the_conn
+
+    def _set_conn(self, conn):
+        self._the_conn = conn
+
+    conn = property(_get_conn, _set_conn)
+
+
+def decorate_all_tests(cls, *decorators):
+    """
+    Apply all the *decorators* to all the tests defined in the TestCase *cls*.
+    """
     for n in dir(cls):
         if n.startswith('test'):
-            setattr(cls, n, decorator(getattr(cls, n)))
+            for d in decorators:
+                setattr(cls, n, d(getattr(cls, n)))
 
 
 def skip_if_no_uuid(f):