diff --git a/test/unit/watcher_test.rb b/test/unit/watcher_test.rb
index 1e95be2f6..ced499712 100644
--- a/test/unit/watcher_test.rb
+++ b/test/unit/watcher_test.rb
@@ -110,7 +110,9 @@ class WatcherTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
   end
 
   def test_watcher_user_ids_should_make_ids_uniq
-    issue = Issue.new(:project => Project.find(1), :tracker_id => 1, :subject => "test", :author => User.find(2))
+    author = User.find(2)
+    author.pref.auto_watch_on = []
+    issue = Issue.new(:project => Project.find(1), :tracker_id => 1, :subject => "test", :author => author)
     issue.watcher_user_ids = ['1', '3', '1']
     issue.save!
     assert_equal 2, issue.watchers.count