diff --git a/backend/tests/conftest.py b/backend/tests/conftest.py
index 3ba51099..a05be4b0 100644
--- a/backend/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/backend/tests/conftest.py
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ def anyio_backend():
 
 
 @pytest.fixture(scope="session")
-def neo4j():
+def wait_neo4j():
     """waiting for neo4j to be ready"""
     uri = os.environ.get("NEO4J_URI", "bolt://localhost:7687")
     with GraphDatabase.driver(uri) as driver:
@@ -45,11 +45,10 @@ def neo4j():
                     time.sleep(1)
                 else:
                     connected = True
-        yield driver
 
 
 @pytest.fixture(scope="session")
-async def database_lifespan(neo4j):
+async def database_lifespan(wait_neo4j, anyio_backend):
     async with graph_db.database_lifespan() as driver:
         yield driver
 
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_api.py b/backend/tests/test_api.py
index 95c1d5e2..c38f43df 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_api.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_api.py
@@ -8,15 +8,15 @@
 
 
 @pytest.fixture(autouse=True)
-def test_setup(neo4j):
+async def test_setup(database_lifespan, anyio_backend):
     # delete all the nodes and relations in the database
-    with neo4j.session() as session:
+    async with database_lifespan.session() as session:
         query = "MATCH (n) DETACH DELETE n"
-        session.run(query)
+        await session.run(query)
         query = "DROP INDEX p_test_branch_SearchIds IF EXISTS"
-        session.run(query)
+        await session.run(query)
         query = "DROP INDEX p_test_branch_SearchTagsIds IF EXISTS"
-        session.run(query)
+        await session.run(query)
 
 
 def test_hello(client):
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_export.py b/backend/tests/test_export.py
index 6dca8f6e..b53d9655 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_export.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_export.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 
 
 @pytest.fixture()
-async def taxonomy_test(database_lifespan):
+async def taxonomy_test(database_lifespan, anyio_backend):
     """We will import a project to work with
 
     We cache the project by fully duplicating it so that setup is faster
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ async def test_no_modification(taxonomy_test):
     file_path = taxonomy_test.dump_taxonomy(background_tasks)
     assert open(file_path).read() == open("tests/data/test.txt").read()
     # clean files
-    background_tasks.run()
+    await background_tasks.run()
 
 
 @pytest.mark.anyio
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ async def test_remove_parent(taxonomy_test):
     del expected[45]
     assert result == expected
     # clean files
-    background_tasks.run()
+    await background_tasks.run()
 
 
 @pytest.mark.anyio
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ async def test_add_parent(taxonomy_test):
     expected.insert(46, "< en:fake-stuff\n")
     assert result == expected
     # clean files
-    background_tasks.run()
+    await background_tasks.run()
 
 
 @pytest.mark.anyio
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ async def test_add_synonym(taxonomy_test):
     expected[46] = "fr: yaourts au fruit de la passion allégés, yaourts allégé aux grenadilles\n"
     assert result == expected
     # clean files
-    background_tasks.run()
+    await background_tasks.run()
 
 
 @pytest.mark.anyio
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ async def test_remove_synonym(taxonomy_test):
     expected.insert(11, expected.pop(13))
     assert result == expected
     # clean files
-    background_tasks.run()
+    await background_tasks.run()
 
 
 @pytest.mark.anyio
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ async def test_no_comment_repeat(taxonomy_test):
     expected = list(open("tests/data/test.txt"))
     assert result == expected
     # clean files
-    background_tasks.run()
+    await background_tasks.run()
 
 
 @pytest.mark.anyio
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ async def test_add_bare_child(taxonomy_test):
     ]
     assert result == expected
     # clean files
-    background_tasks.run()
+    await background_tasks.run()
 
 
 @pytest.mark.anyio
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ async def test_add_new_entry_as_child(taxonomy_test):
     ]
     assert result == expected
     # clean files
-    background_tasks.run()
+    await background_tasks.run()
 
 
 @pytest.mark.anyio
@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@ async def test_add_new_root_entries(taxonomy_test):
 
     assert result == expected
     # clean files
-    background_tasks.run()
+    await background_tasks.run()
 
 
 @pytest.mark.anyio
@@ -321,4 +321,4 @@ async def test_change_entry_id(taxonomy_test):
     expected.insert(39, expected.pop(41))
     assert result == expected
     # clean files
-    background_tasks.run()
+    await background_tasks.run()
diff --git a/backend/tests/utils.py b/backend/tests/utils.py
index e2577630..6fa25fc6 100644
--- a/backend/tests/utils.py
+++ b/backend/tests/utils.py
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 """Some utils related to testing"""
 
+import inspect
+
 
 class FakeBackgroundTask:
     """A fake background task to avoid running background tasks during tests"""
@@ -13,7 +15,10 @@ def add_task(self, fn, *args, **kwargs):
     async def run(self):
         while self.tasks:
             fn, args, kwargs = self.tasks.pop()
-            await fn(*args, **kwargs)
+            if inspect.iscoroutinefunction(fn):
+                await fn(*args, **kwargs)
+            else:
+                fn(*args, **kwargs)
 
 
 async def clean_neo4j_db(neo4j):