diff --git a/src/calibre/srv/tests/base.py b/src/calibre/srv/tests/base.py
index ab542f8bd5..7c9581e522 100644
--- a/src/calibre/srv/tests/base.py
+++ b/src/calibre/srv/tests/base.py
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ class TestServer(Thread):
 
     daemon = True
 
-    def __init__(self, handler, plugins=(), specialize=lambda srv:None, **kwargs):
+    def __init__(self, handler, plugins=(), **kwargs):
         Thread.__init__(self, name='ServerMain')
         from calibre.srv.opts import Options
         from calibre.srv.loop import ServerLoop
@@ -91,7 +91,6 @@ class TestServer(Thread):
         self.log = self.loop.log
         # allow unittest's bufferring to work
         self.log.outputs[0].stream = sys.stdout
-        specialize(self)
 
     def setup_defaults(self, kwargs):
         kwargs['shutdown_timeout'] = kwargs.get('shutdown_timeout', 0.1)
@@ -133,7 +132,7 @@ class TestServer(Thread):
 
 class LibraryServer(TestServer):
 
-    def __init__(self, library_path, libraries=(), plugins=(), specialize=lambda x:None, **kwargs):
+    def __init__(self, library_path, libraries=(), plugins=(), **kwargs):
         Thread.__init__(self, name='ServerMain')
         from calibre.srv.opts import Options
         from calibre.srv.loop import ServerLoop
@@ -152,7 +151,6 @@ class LibraryServer(TestServer):
         # allow unittest's bufferring to work
         self.loop.log.outputs[0].stream = sys.stdout
         self.handler.set_log(self.loop.log)
-        specialize(self)
 
     def __exit__(self, *args):
         self.loop.stop()
diff --git a/src/calibre/srv/tests/http.py b/src/calibre/srv/tests/http.py
index b5eb2c798a..2fb59521ca 100644
--- a/src/calibre/srv/tests/http.py
+++ b/src/calibre/srv/tests/http.py
@@ -196,14 +196,11 @@ class TestHTTP(BaseTest):
             self.ae(r.read(), b'Requested resource not found')
 
             # Test 500
-            orig = server.loop.log.filter_level
-            server.loop.log.filter_level = server.loop.log.ERROR + 10
             server.change_handler(lambda data:1/0)
             conn = server.connect()
             conn.request('GET', '/test/')
             r = conn.getresponse()
             self.ae(r.status, http_client.INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR)
-            server.loop.log.filter_level = orig
 
             # Test 301
             def handler(data):
@@ -244,9 +241,6 @@ class TestHTTP(BaseTest):
             self.ae(r.status, http_client.OK)
             self.ae(r.read(), b'testbody1234567890')
 
-            # Test various incorrect input
-            orig_level, server.log.filter_level = server.log.filter_level, server.log.ERROR
-
             conn.request('GET', '/test' + ('a' * 200))
             r = conn.getresponse()
             self.ae(r.status, http_client.BAD_REQUEST)
@@ -284,7 +278,6 @@ class TestHTTP(BaseTest):
             self.ae(r.status, http_client.REQUEST_TIMEOUT)
             self.assertIn(b'', r.read())
 
-            server.log.filter_level = orig_level
             conn = server.connect()
 
             # Test closing
diff --git a/src/calibre/srv/tests/loop.py b/src/calibre/srv/tests/loop.py
index 57d20e42f6..68f9f5bcc9 100644
--- a/src/calibre/srv/tests/loop.py
+++ b/src/calibre/srv/tests/loop.py
@@ -96,16 +96,13 @@ class LoopTest(BaseTest):
                 raise Exception('Got unexpected response: code: %s %s headers: %r data: %r' % (
                     res.status, res.reason, res.getheaders(), res.read()))
             self.ae(pool.busy, 1)
-            server.loop.log.filter_level = server.loop.log.ERROR
             server.loop.stop()
             server.join()
             self.ae(1, sum(int(w.is_alive()) for w in pool.workers))
 
     def test_fallback_interface(self):
         'Test falling back to default interface'
-        def specialize(server):
-            server.loop.log.filter_level = server.loop.log.ERROR
-        with TestServer(lambda data:(data.path[0] + data.read()), listen_on='1.1.1.1', fallback_to_detected_interface=True, specialize=specialize) as server:
+        with TestServer(lambda data:(data.path[0] + data.read()), listen_on='1.1.1.1', fallback_to_detected_interface=True) as server:
             self.assertNotEqual('1.1.1.1', server.address[0])
 
     @skipIf(True, 'Disabled as it is failing on the build server, need to investigate')