diff --git a/test/coreneuron/test_netmove.py b/test/coreneuron/test_netmove.py
index 5cbe1858e9..817d2c69ca 100644
--- a/test/coreneuron/test_netmove.py
+++ b/test/coreneuron/test_netmove.py
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ def result(self):
         return (self.syn.n_netsend, self.syn.n_netmove, self.msgvec.c())
 
 
-def test_netmove():
+def _test_netmove():
     from neuron import coreneuron
 
     coreneuron.enable = False
@@ -111,10 +111,10 @@ def runassert(mode):
     return stdlist
 
 
-if __name__ == "__main__":
+def test_netmove():
     from neuron import gui
 
-    stdlist = test_netmove()
+    stdlist = _test_netmove()
     g = h.Graph()
     print("n_netsend  n_netmove")
     for result in stdlist:
@@ -122,3 +122,7 @@ def runassert(mode):
         result[2].line(g)
     g.exec_menu("View = plot")
     h.quit()
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    test_netmove()
diff --git a/test/coreneuron/test_spikes.py b/test/coreneuron/test_spikes.py
index cecb8a3d0e..883609c16b 100644
--- a/test/coreneuron/test_spikes.py
+++ b/test/coreneuron/test_spikes.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
     from neuron import h, gui
 
 
-def test_spikes(
+def _test_spikes(
     use_mpi4py=mpi4py_option,
     use_nrnmpi_init=nrnmpi_init_option,
     file_mode=file_mode_option,
@@ -132,9 +132,13 @@ def run(mode):
     return h
 
 
-if __name__ == "__main__":
-    h = test_spikes()
+def test_spikes():
+    result = _test_spikes()
     if mpi4py_option or nrnmpi_init_option:
         pc = h.ParallelContext()
         pc.barrier()
-    h.quit()
+    result.quit()
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    test_spikes()
diff --git a/test/gjtests/test_natrans.py b/test/gjtests/test_natrans.py
index 53077d1cd5..c01acf7530 100644
--- a/test/gjtests/test_natrans.py
+++ b/test/gjtests/test_natrans.py
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@
 )
 
 
-def test_natrans():
+def _test_natrans():
     gids = [gid for gid in range(rank, ncell, nhost)]
     cells = []
     for gid in range(rank, ncell, nhost):
@@ -115,7 +115,11 @@ def run():
     return cells, gids, sgids, targets
 
 
-if __name__ == "__main__":
-    model = test_natrans()
+def test_natrans():
+    model = _test_natrans()
     pc.barrier()
     h.quit()
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    test_natrans()
diff --git a/test/pytest_coreneuron/test_nlayer.py b/test/pytest_coreneuron/test_nlayer.py
index 5a7670da58..5defbf4d68 100644
--- a/test/pytest_coreneuron/test_nlayer.py
+++ b/test/pytest_coreneuron/test_nlayer.py
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ def run(self):
         return res
 
 
-def test_nlayer():
+def _test_nlayer():
     res = []
     for nlayer in [1, 2, 3]:
         h.nlayer_extracellular(nlayer)
@@ -52,10 +52,14 @@ def test_nlayer():
     return res
 
 
-if __name__ == "__main__":
-    res = test_nlayer()
+def test_nlayer():
+    res = _test_nlayer()
     for i in range(len(res[0][0])):
         for j in range(2):
             for k in range(3):
                 print("%g" % res[k][j].x[i], end=" ")
         print()
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    test_nlayer()