diff --git a/Code/Mantid/Framework/Kernel/test/ConfigServiceTest.h b/Code/Mantid/Framework/Kernel/test/ConfigServiceTest.h
index 64102878c1f99232c5c986a9433cce17eee38219..9c62694d244826d80ca4f9d3af17f8a7fa38c9a9 100644
--- a/Code/Mantid/Framework/Kernel/test/ConfigServiceTest.h
+++ b/Code/Mantid/Framework/Kernel/test/ConfigServiceTest.h
@@ -178,7 +178,12 @@ public:
 
   void testSaveConfigCleanFile()
   {
+    ConfigService::Instance().updateConfig("MantidTest.properties");
     const std::string filename("user.settings");
+  
+    // save any previous changed settings to make sure we're on a clean slate
+    ConfigService::Instance().saveConfig(filename);
+    
     Poco::File prop_file(filename);
     // Start with a clean state
     if( prop_file.exists() ) prop_file.remove();