diff --git a/python/tests/conftest.py b/python/tests/conftest.py
index 6a2933e1c..fd81c60ff 100644
--- a/python/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/python/tests/conftest.py
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ def acfactory(pytestconfig, tmpdir, request, session_liveconfig):
             ac = self.make_account(tmpdb.strpath, logid="ac{}".format(self.live_count))
             ac._evlogger.init_time = self.init_time
             ac._evlogger.set_timeout(30)
-            return ac, configdict
+            return ac, dict(configdict)
 
         def get_online_configuring_account(self):
             ac, configdict = self.get_online_config()
diff --git a/python/tests/test_account.py b/python/tests/test_account.py
index 18012eb94..ff7704c25 100644
--- a/python/tests/test_account.py
+++ b/python/tests/test_account.py
@@ -621,9 +621,7 @@ class TestOnlineAccount:
 class TestOnlineConfigureFails:
     def test_invalid_password(self, acfactory):
         ac1, configdict = acfactory.get_online_config()
-        pw = configdict["mail_pw"]
-        configdict["mail_pw"] = pw[:-1]  # wrong password
-        ac1.configure(**configdict)
+        ac1.configure(addr=configdict["addr"], mail_pw="123")
         ac1.start_threads()
         wait_configuration_progress(ac1, 500)
         ev1 = ac1._evlogger.get_matching("DC_EVENT_ERROR_NETWORK")
@@ -632,9 +630,7 @@ class TestOnlineConfigureFails:
 
     def test_invalid_user(self, acfactory):
         ac1, configdict = acfactory.get_online_config()
-        addr = configdict["addr"]
-        configdict["addr"] = "x" + addr # wrong user
-        ac1.configure(**configdict)
+        ac1.configure(addr="x" + configdict["addr"], mail_pw=configdict["mail_pw"])
         ac1.start_threads()
         wait_configuration_progress(ac1, 500)
         ev1 = ac1._evlogger.get_matching("DC_EVENT_ERROR_NETWORK")
@@ -643,9 +639,7 @@ class TestOnlineConfigureFails:
 
     def test_invalid_domain(self, acfactory):
         ac1, configdict = acfactory.get_online_config()
-        addr = configdict["addr"]
-        configdict["addr"] = addr + "x"
-        ac1.configure(**configdict)
+        ac1.configure(addr=configdict["addr"] + "x", mail_pw=configdict["mail_pw"])
         ac1.start_threads()
         wait_configuration_progress(ac1, 500)
         ev1 = ac1._evlogger.get_matching("DC_EVENT_ERROR_NETWORK")