diff --git a/tests/__init__.py b/tests/__init__.py
index 7679ddc..14e6b78 100644
--- a/tests/__init__.py
+++ b/tests/__init__.py
@@ -26,6 +26,12 @@ class BaseTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
         except OSError:
             pass
 
+    def extend_config(self, *args):
+        base_config = self.BASE_VALID_CONFIG.copy()
+        for arg in args:
+            base_config = dict(base_config, **arg)
+        return base_config
+
     def delete_templates(self):
         for template in [
             'header.html',
diff --git a/tests/test_context.py b/tests/test_context.py
index 4a1722c..b5eb9ad 100644
--- a/tests/test_context.py
+++ b/tests/test_context.py
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ class ContextTestCase(BaseTestCase):
             self.assertIn(key, context)
 
     def test_context_contains_context(self):
-        config = dict(self.BASE_VALID_CONFIG, **{
+        config = self.extend_config({
             'context': {
                 '1': '2'
             }
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ class ContextTestCase(BaseTestCase):
         self.assertEqual(context['output_dir'], os.path.abspath(self.BASE_VALID_CONFIG['output_dir']))
 
     def test_word_count(self):
-        config = dict(self.BASE_VALID_CONFIG, **{
+        config = self.extend_config({
             'show_word_count': True
         })
         context = get_context(config, 'testy test test')
@@ -61,14 +61,14 @@ class ContextTestCase(BaseTestCase):
             datetime.now().time(),
             datetime.now()
         ]:
-            config = dict(self.BASE_VALID_CONFIG, **{
+            config = self.extend_config({
                 'submission_date': value
             })
             context = get_context(config, 'test')
             self.assertEqual(context['submission_date'], value.strftime(consts.DATE_FORMAT))
 
     def test_date_format(self):
-        config = dict(self.BASE_VALID_CONFIG, **{
+        config = self.extend_config({
             'submission_date': '2017-01-01'
         })
         context = get_context(config, 'test')
diff --git a/tests/test_parser.py b/tests/test_parser.py
index 6182204..ec28f5f 100644
--- a/tests/test_parser.py
+++ b/tests/test_parser.py
@@ -44,14 +44,14 @@ class AddBodyClassTestCase(BaseTestCase):
 class RenderTemplateTestCase(BaseTestCase):
     def test_renders_template(self):
         html = 'test {{ test }}'
-        output = content.render_template(html, dict(self.BASE_VALID_CONFIG, **{
+        output = content.render_template(html, self.extend_config({
             'test': 'content'
         }))
         self.assertEqual(output, 'test content')
 
     def test_changes_nothing(self):
         html = 'test test'
-        output = content.render_template(html, dict(self.BASE_VALID_CONFIG, **{
+        output = content.render_template(html, self.extend_config({
             'test': 'content'
         }))
         self.assertEqual(output, html)