diff --git a/src/qt/test/apptests.cpp b/src/qt/test/apptests.cpp
--- a/src/qt/test/apptests.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/test/apptests.cpp
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@
 #include <wallet/db.h>
 #endif
 
+#include <test/setup_common.h>
+
 #include <QAction>
 #include <QEventLoop>
 #include <QLineEdit>
@@ -91,6 +93,8 @@
 
     Config &config = const_cast<Config &>(GetConfig());
 
+    // Create a temp data directory to backup the gui settings to
+    BasicTestingSetup test{CBaseChainParams::REGTEST};
     // Already started by the common test setup, so stop it to avoid
     // interference
     ECC_Stop();
diff --git a/src/qt/test/paymentservertests.cpp b/src/qt/test/paymentservertests.cpp
--- a/src/qt/test/paymentservertests.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/test/paymentservertests.cpp
@@ -12,7 +12,8 @@
 #include <script/script.h>
 #include <script/standard.h>
 #include <util/strencodings.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
+
+#include <test/setup_common.h>
 
 #include <openssl/x509.h>
 #include <openssl/x509_vfy.h>
@@ -62,7 +63,7 @@
 }
 
 void PaymentServerTests::paymentServerTests() {
-    SelectParams(CBaseChainParams::MAIN);
+    BasicTestingSetup testing_setup(CBaseChainParams::MAIN);
     auto node = interfaces::MakeNode();
     OptionsModel optionsModel(*node);
     PaymentServer *server = new PaymentServer(nullptr, false);
diff --git a/src/qt/test/rpcnestedtests.cpp b/src/qt/test/rpcnestedtests.cpp
--- a/src/qt/test/rpcnestedtests.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/test/rpcnestedtests.cpp
@@ -40,10 +40,6 @@
     tableRPC.appendCommand("rpcNestedTest", &vRPCCommands[0]);
     // mempool.setSanityCheck(1.0);
 
-    // Already started by the common test setup, so stop it to avoid
-    // interference
-    ECC_Stop();
-    LogInstance().DisconnectTestLogger();
     TestingSetup test;
 
     std::string result;
diff --git a/src/qt/test/test_main.cpp b/src/qt/test/test_main.cpp
--- a/src/qt/test/test_main.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/test/test_main.cpp
@@ -50,11 +50,15 @@
 #endif
 #endif
 
-extern void noui_connect();
-
 // This is all you need to run all the tests
 int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
-    BasicTestingSetup test{CBaseChainParams::REGTEST};
+    // Initialize persistent globals with the testing setup state for sanity.
+    // E.g. -datadir in gArgs is set to a temp directory dummy value (instead
+    // of defaulting to the default datadir), or globalChainParams is set to
+    // regtest params.
+    //
+    // All tests must use their own testing setup (if needed).
+    { BasicTestingSetup dummy{CBaseChainParams::REGTEST}; }
 
     auto node = interfaces::MakeNode();