diff --git a/ckan/plugins/toolkit.py b/ckan/plugins/toolkit.py
index d61705ec947..a5cc37eb9a2 100644
--- a/ckan/plugins/toolkit.py
+++ b/ckan/plugins/toolkit.py
@@ -89,6 +89,8 @@ def _initialize(self):
         import ckan.common as common
         import ckan.lib.datapreview as datapreview
         from ckan.exceptions import CkanVersionException
+        import ckan.tests.helpers as test_helpers
+        import ckan.tests.factories as test_factories
 
         from paste.deploy import converters
         import pylons
@@ -215,6 +217,10 @@ def _initialize(self):
         t['check_ckan_version'] = self._check_ckan_version
         t['CkanVersionException'] = CkanVersionException
 
+        # for tests in extensions
+        t['test_helpers'] = test_helpers
+        t['test_factories'] = test_factories
+
         # check contents list correct
         errors = set(t).symmetric_difference(set(self.contents))
         if errors: