diff --git a/spec/support/quota_helper.rb b/spec/support/quota_helper.rb
index c2941439d65..911ae2dd2f5 100644
--- a/spec/support/quota_helper.rb
+++ b/spec/support/quota_helper.rb
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ def build_generic_ansible_tower_service_item
       end
 
       def build_vmware_service_item
-        options = {:src_vm_id => @vm_template.id, :requester => @user}.merge(vmware_requested_quota_values)
+        options = {:src_vm_id => @vm_template.id, :requester_id => @user.id}.merge(vmware_requested_quota_values)
         model = {"vmware_service_item" => {:type      => 'atomic',
                                            :prov_type => 'vmware',
                                            :request   => options}}
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ def build_google_service_item
         @small_flavor = FactoryGirl.create(:flavor_google, :ems_id => @ems.id, :cloud_subnet_required => false,
                                           :cpus => 1, :cpu_cores => 1, :memory => 1024)
 
-        options = {:src_vm_id => @vm_template.id, :requester => @user}.merge(google_requested_quota_values)
+        options = {:src_vm_id => @vm_template.id, :requester_id => @user.id}.merge(google_requested_quota_values)
         model = {"google_service_item" => {:type      => 'atomic',
                                            :prov_type => 'google',
                                            :request   => options}}
diff --git a/spec/support/service_template_helper.rb b/spec/support/service_template_helper.rb
index 31f2dc896cd..2906604cdd7 100644
--- a/spec/support/service_template_helper.rb
+++ b/spec/support/service_template_helper.rb
@@ -6,6 +6,10 @@ def build_service_template_tree(hash)
         build_all_composites(hash)
       end
 
+      def get_user(options)
+        options[:requester] || User.find(options[:requester_id])
+      end
+
       def build_all_atomics(hash)
         hash.each do |name, value|
           next unless value[:type] == "atomic"
@@ -19,7 +23,7 @@ def build_all_atomics(hash)
           options ||= {}
           options[:dialog] = {}
           mprt = FactoryGirl.create(:miq_provision_request_template,
-                                    :requester => options[:requester],
+                                    :requester => get_user(options),
                                     :src_vm_id => options[:src_vm_id],
                                     :options   => options)
           add_st_resource(item, mprt)