diff --git a/tardis/conftest.py b/tardis/conftest.py
index 169441e07ce..298b9d2c6f8 100644
--- a/tardis/conftest.py
+++ b/tardis/conftest.py
@@ -96,6 +96,11 @@ def tardis_ref_path():
 def atomic_data_fname(tardis_ref_path):
     atomic_data_fname = os.path.join(
         tardis_ref_path, 'atom_data', 'kurucz_cd23_chianti_H_He.h5')
+
+    assert os.path.exists(atomic_data_fname), ("{0} atomic datafiles"
+                                               " does not seem to "
+                                               "exist".format(
+                                                   atomic_data_fname))
     return atomic_data_fname
 
 
diff --git a/tardis/plasma/tests/test_plasmas_full.py b/tardis/plasma/tests/test_plasmas_full.py
index df0d8f09cbf..a91762c60eb 100644
--- a/tardis/plasma/tests/test_plasmas_full.py
+++ b/tardis/plasma/tests/test_plasmas_full.py
@@ -26,10 +26,6 @@ class TestPlasmas():
     @classmethod
     @pytest.fixture(scope="class", autouse=True)
     def setup(self, atomic_data_fname):
-        assert os.path.exists(atomic_data_fname), ("{0} atomic datafiles"
-                                                         " does not seem to "
-                                                         "exist".format(
-            atomic_data_fname))
         self.config_yaml = yaml_load_config_file(
             'tardis/plasma/tests/data/plasma_test_config_lte.yml')
         self.config_yaml['atom_data'] = atomic_data_fname
diff --git a/tardis/tests/test_atomic.py b/tardis/tests/test_atomic.py
index 152e3f9c9a3..c009cd03d02 100644
--- a/tardis/tests/test_atomic.py
+++ b/tardis/tests/test_atomic.py
@@ -137,10 +137,6 @@ def test_atomic_symbol_reverse():
 
 
 def test_atomic_reprepare(atomic_data_fname):
-    assert os.path.exists(atomic_data_fname), ("{0} atomic datafiles "
-                                               "does not seem to "
-                                               "exist".format(
-                                                   atomic_data_fname))
     atom_data = atomic.AtomData.from_hdf5(atomic_data_fname)
     atom_data.prepare_atom_data([14])
     assert len(atom_data.lines) > 0
diff --git a/tardis/tests/test_tardis_full.py b/tardis/tests/test_tardis_full.py
index c1c21778b85..7fd44de8dee 100644
--- a/tardis/tests/test_tardis_full.py
+++ b/tardis/tests/test_tardis_full.py
@@ -22,10 +22,6 @@ class TestSimpleRun():
     @classmethod
     @pytest.fixture(scope="class", autouse=True)
     def setup(self, atomic_data_fname):
-        assert os.path.exists(atomic_data_fname), ("{0} atomic datafiles"
-                                                   " does not seem to "
-                                                   "exist".format(
-                                                       atomic_data_fname))
         self.config_yaml = yaml_load_config_file(
             'tardis/io/tests/data/tardis_configv1_verysimple.yml')
         self.config_yaml['atom_data'] = atomic_data_fname