diff --git a/Testing/SystemTests/tests/analysis/ISIS_PowderPolarisTest.py b/Testing/SystemTests/tests/analysis/ISIS_PowderPolarisTest.py
index cbc847192cbd080879179153e3c5c9604d602c3e..5348c7ff18c7e0000bad2ab6ac883a633845ed36 100644
--- a/Testing/SystemTests/tests/analysis/ISIS_PowderPolarisTest.py
+++ b/Testing/SystemTests/tests/analysis/ISIS_PowderPolarisTest.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ class isis_powder_PolarisVanadiumCalTest(stresstesting.MantidStressTest):
         self.calibration_results = _run_vanadium_calibration()
 
     def validate(self):
-        return _calibration_validation(self, self.calibration_results)
+        return _calibration_validation(self, self.calibration_results)  # First element is WS Group
 
     def cleanup(self):
         # TODO clean up reference files properly
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ class isis_powder_PolarisFocusTest(stresstesting.MantidStressTest):
         self.focus_results = _run_focus()
 
     def validation(self):
-        return _calibration_validation(self, self.focus_results)
+        return _focus_validation(self, self.focus_results)
 
     def cleanup(self):
         config['datasearch.directories'] = self.existing_config
@@ -61,17 +61,13 @@ def _gen_required_files():
 
 def _run_vanadium_calibration():
     vanadium_run = 78338
-    empty_run = 78339
-    output_file_name = _get_calibration_output_name()
     gen_absorb = True
 
     polaris_obj = setup_polaris_instrument()
     # Try it without an output name
-    polaris_obj.create_calibration_vanadium(vanadium_runs=vanadium_run, empty_runs=empty_run,
-                                            gen_absorb_correction=gen_absorb)
 
-    return polaris_obj.create_calibration_vanadium(vanadium_runs=vanadium_run, empty_runs=empty_run,
-                                                   output_file_name=output_file_name, gen_absorb_correction=gen_absorb)
+    return polaris_obj.create_calibration_vanadium(run_in_range=vanadium_run,
+                                                   gen_absorb_correction=gen_absorb)
 
 
 def _run_focus():
@@ -82,12 +78,9 @@ def _run_focus():
 
 def _calibration_validation(cls, results):
     _validation_setup(cls)
-    output_full_path = os.path.join(_get_calibration_dir(), _get_calibration_output_name())
-    ws_to_validate_output_name = "POLARIS_Vanadium_Calibration_Output"
-    mantid.LoadNexus(Filename=output_full_path, OutputWorkspace=ws_to_validate_output_name)
-
+    results_name = results[0].getName()
     reference_file_name = "ISIS_Powder-PEARL78338_Van_Cal.nxs"
-    return ws_to_validate_output_name, reference_file_name
+    return results_name, reference_file_name
 
 
 def _focus_validation(cls, results):
diff --git a/scripts/Diffraction/isis_powder/abstract_inst.py b/scripts/Diffraction/isis_powder/abstract_inst.py
index b6f71aed5a4b386fb74f9e32cd6a9f3dc5a59545..325f70cf031e2853ce88799bdee3ed2cf13bebfb 100644
--- a/scripts/Diffraction/isis_powder/abstract_inst.py
+++ b/scripts/Diffraction/isis_powder/abstract_inst.py
@@ -79,9 +79,9 @@ class AbstractInst(object):
 
     def _create_calibration_vanadium(self, vanadium_runs, empty_runs, output_file_name=None, num_of_splines=None,
                                      do_absorb_corrections=True, gen_absorb_correction=False):
-        calibrate.create_van(instrument=self, van=vanadium_runs, empty=empty_runs,
-                             output_van_file_name=output_file_name, num_of_splines=num_of_splines,
-                             absorb=do_absorb_corrections, gen_absorb=gen_absorb_correction)
+        return calibrate.create_van(instrument=self, van=vanadium_runs, empty=empty_runs,
+                                    output_van_file_name=output_file_name, num_of_splines=num_of_splines,
+                                    absorb=do_absorb_corrections, gen_absorb=gen_absorb_correction)
 
     @staticmethod
     def set_debug_mode(val):
diff --git a/scripts/Diffraction/isis_powder/polaris.py b/scripts/Diffraction/isis_powder/polaris.py
index 4590322afd6d4c560bb1b1f84aa6c07bb2672021..c87284070fc357eab4a207bc5f7e8a256a88c894 100644
--- a/scripts/Diffraction/isis_powder/polaris.py
+++ b/scripts/Diffraction/isis_powder/polaris.py
@@ -42,9 +42,10 @@ class Polaris(AbstractInst):
 
     def create_calibration_vanadium(self, run_in_range, do_absorb_corrections=True, gen_absorb_correction=False):
         run_details = self._get_run_details(run_number=int(run_in_range))
-        self._create_calibration_vanadium(vanadium_runs=run_details.vanadium, empty_runs=run_details.sample_empty,
-                                          do_absorb_corrections=do_absorb_corrections,
-                                          gen_absorb_correction=gen_absorb_correction)
+        return self._create_calibration_vanadium(vanadium_runs=run_details.vanadium,
+                                                 empty_runs=run_details.sample_empty,
+                                                 do_absorb_corrections=do_absorb_corrections,
+                                                 gen_absorb_correction=gen_absorb_correction)
 
     # Abstract implementation
     def _get_lambda_range(self):