diff --git a/tests/py/test_billing_payday.py b/tests/py/test_billing_payday.py
index 2667efca58..956d3fea08 100644
--- a/tests/py/test_billing_payday.py
+++ b/tests/py/test_billing_payday.py
@@ -518,6 +518,7 @@ def test_payout_unreviewed(self, log):
         self.make_participant('alice', claimed_time='now', is_suspicious=None,
                               balance=20, balanced_customer_href='foo',
                               last_ach_result='')
+        self.make_team(owner='alice', is_approved=True)
         Payday.start().payout()
         log.assert_any_call('UNREVIEWED: alice')
 
@@ -526,6 +527,7 @@ def test_payout_ach_error(self, ach_credit):
         self.make_participant('alice', claimed_time='now', is_suspicious=False,
                               balance=20, balanced_customer_href='foo',
                               last_ach_result='')
+        self.make_team(owner='alice', is_approved=True)
         ach_credit.return_value = 'some error'
         Payday.start().payout()
         payday = self.fetch_payday()