diff --git a/tests/src/python/test_qgstabwidget.py b/tests/src/python/test_qgstabwidget.py
index 764e2b462f3..9076321f5a3 100644
--- a/tests/src/python/test_qgstabwidget.py
+++ b/tests/src/python/test_qgstabwidget.py
@@ -17,10 +17,12 @@ test_qgstabwidget.py
 
 import qgis  # NOQA
 
-from qgis.testing import unittest
+from qgis.testing import unittest, start_app
 from qgis.gui import QgsTabWidget
 from qgis.PyQt.QtGui import QApplication, QWidget
 
+start_app()
+
 
 class TestQgsTabWidget(unittest.TestCase):