diff --git a/settings/default.py b/settings/default.py
index 4df202d5c832783bb1485d8b8082117f8c25e65d..9e743573f1fd295f7073c09ed1404f5077d53517 100644
--- a/settings/default.py
+++ b/settings/default.py
@@ -256,6 +256,8 @@ SOUTH_MIGRATION_MODULES = {
     'guardian' : 'migrations.guardian',
 }
 
+SOUTH_TESTS_MIGRATE = False
+
 # XXX The following Log settings are for a performance metric.
 import logging
 LOG_ROOT = '/home/gracedb/logs'