diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/activitypub/test_author.py b/bookwyrm/tests/activitypub/test_author.py
index 7579909a8..7f21e570c 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/activitypub/test_author.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/activitypub/test_author.py
@@ -7,13 +7,13 @@ class Author(TestCase):
     """serialize author tests"""
 
     @classmethod
-    def setUpTestData(self):  # pylint: disable=bad-classmethod-argument
+    def setUpTestData(cls):
         """initial data"""
-        self.book = models.Edition.objects.create(
+        cls.book = models.Edition.objects.create(
             title="Example Edition",
             remote_id="https://example.com/book/1",
         )
-        self.author = models.Author.objects.create(
+        cls.author = models.Author.objects.create(
             name="Author fullname",
             aliases=["One", "Two"],
             bio="bio bio bio",
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/activitypub/test_quotation.py b/bookwyrm/tests/activitypub/test_quotation.py
index 9a0867c52..50aeb5834 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/activitypub/test_quotation.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/activitypub/test_quotation.py
@@ -11,10 +11,10 @@ class Quotation(TestCase):
     """we have hecka ways to create statuses"""
 
     @classmethod
-    def setUpTestData(self):  # pylint: disable=bad-classmethod-argument
+    def setUpTestData(cls):
         """model objects we'll need"""
         with patch("bookwyrm.models.user.set_remote_server.delay"):
-            self.user = models.User.objects.create_user(
+            cls.user = models.User.objects.create_user(
                 "mouse",
                 "mouse@mouse.mouse",
                 "mouseword",
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ class Quotation(TestCase):
                 outbox="https://example.com/user/mouse/outbox",
                 remote_id="https://example.com/user/mouse",
             )
-        self.book = models.Edition.objects.create(
+        cls.book = models.Edition.objects.create(
             title="Example Edition",
             remote_id="https://example.com/book/1",
         )
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/connectors/test_abstract_connector.py b/bookwyrm/tests/connectors/test_abstract_connector.py
index b43966d6a..994286994 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/connectors/test_abstract_connector.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/connectors/test_abstract_connector.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ class AbstractConnector(TestCase):
     """generic code for connecting to outside data sources"""
 
     @classmethod
-    def setUpTestData(self):  # pylint: disable=bad-classmethod-argument
+    def setUpTestData(cls):
         """we need an example connector in the database"""
         models.Connector.objects.create(
             identifier="example.com",
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ class AbstractConnector(TestCase):
             covers_url="https://example.com/covers",
             search_url="https://example.com/search?q=",
         )
-        self.book = models.Edition.objects.create(
+        cls.book = models.Edition.objects.create(
             title="Test Book",
             remote_id="https://example.com/book/1234",
             openlibrary_key="OL1234M",
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/connectors/test_abstract_minimal_connector.py b/bookwyrm/tests/connectors/test_abstract_minimal_connector.py
index 73399649e..cbbecf652 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/connectors/test_abstract_minimal_connector.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/connectors/test_abstract_minimal_connector.py
@@ -10,9 +10,9 @@ class AbstractConnector(TestCase):
     """generic code for connecting to outside data sources"""
 
     @classmethod
-    def setUpTestData(self):  # pylint: disable=bad-classmethod-argument
+    def setUpTestData(cls):
         """we need an example connector in the database"""
-        self.connector_info = models.Connector.objects.create(
+        cls.connector_info = models.Connector.objects.create(
             identifier="example.com",
             connector_file="openlibrary",
             base_url="https://example.com",
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/connectors/test_bookwyrm_connector.py b/bookwyrm/tests/connectors/test_bookwyrm_connector.py
index 553901655..9a909aa8a 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/connectors/test_bookwyrm_connector.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/connectors/test_bookwyrm_connector.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ class BookWyrmConnector(TestCase):
     """this connector doesn't do much, just search"""
 
     @classmethod
-    def setUpTestData(self):  # pylint: disable=bad-classmethod-argument
+    def setUpTestData(cls):
         """create bookwrym_connector in the database"""
         models.Connector.objects.create(
             identifier="example.com",
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/connectors/test_connector_manager.py b/bookwyrm/tests/connectors/test_connector_manager.py
index cc01f1116..7c9512ced 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/connectors/test_connector_manager.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/connectors/test_connector_manager.py
@@ -11,18 +11,18 @@ class ConnectorManager(TestCase):
     """interface between the app and various connectors"""
 
     @classmethod
-    def setUpTestData(self):  # pylint: disable=bad-classmethod-argument
+    def setUpTestData(cls):
         """we'll need some books and a connector info entry"""
-        self.work = models.Work.objects.create(title="Example Work")
+        cls.work = models.Work.objects.create(title="Example Work")
 
         models.Edition.objects.create(
-            title="Example Edition", parent_work=self.work, isbn_10="0000000000"
+            title="Example Edition", parent_work=cls.work, isbn_10="0000000000"
         )
-        self.edition = models.Edition.objects.create(
-            title="Another Edition", parent_work=self.work, isbn_10="1111111111"
+        cls.edition = models.Edition.objects.create(
+            title="Another Edition", parent_work=cls.work, isbn_10="1111111111"
         )
 
-        self.remote_connector = models.Connector.objects.create(
+        cls.remote_connector = models.Connector.objects.create(
             identifier="test_connector_remote",
             priority=1,
             connector_file="bookwyrm_connector",
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/connectors/test_openlibrary_connector.py b/bookwyrm/tests/connectors/test_openlibrary_connector.py
index 487356400..72bac4244 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/connectors/test_openlibrary_connector.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/connectors/test_openlibrary_connector.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ class Openlibrary(TestCase):
     """test loading data from openlibrary.org"""
 
     @classmethod
-    def setUpTestData(self):  # pylint: disable=bad-classmethod-argument
+    def setUpTestData(cls):
         """creates the connector in the database"""
         models.Connector.objects.create(
             identifier="openlibrary.org",
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_book_model.py b/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_book_model.py
index c6b854180..c40c94294 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_book_model.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_book_model.py
@@ -19,17 +19,17 @@ class Book(TestCase):
     """not too much going on in the books model but here we are"""
 
     @classmethod
-    def setUpTestData(self):  # pylint: disable=bad-classmethod-argument
+    def setUpTestData(cls):
         """we'll need some books"""
-        self.work = models.Work.objects.create(
+        cls.work = models.Work.objects.create(
             title="Example Work", remote_id="https://example.com/book/1"
         )
-        self.first_edition = models.Edition.objects.create(
-            title="Example Edition", parent_work=self.work
+        cls.first_edition = models.Edition.objects.create(
+            title="Example Edition", parent_work=cls.work
         )
-        self.second_edition = models.Edition.objects.create(
+        cls.second_edition = models.Edition.objects.create(
             title="Another Example Edition",
-            parent_work=self.work,
+            parent_work=cls.work,
         )
 
     def test_remote_id(self):
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/test_book_search.py b/bookwyrm/tests/test_book_search.py
index d2056bfeb..4663d1cdc 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/test_book_search.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/test_book_search.py
@@ -11,27 +11,27 @@ class BookSearch(TestCase):
     """look for some books"""
 
     @classmethod
-    def setUpTestData(self):  # pylint: disable=bad-classmethod-argument
+    def setUpTestData(cls):
         """we need basic test data and mocks"""
-        self.work = models.Work.objects.create(title="Example Work")
+        cls.work = models.Work.objects.create(title="Example Work")
 
-        self.first_edition = models.Edition.objects.create(
+        cls.first_edition = models.Edition.objects.create(
             title="Example Edition",
-            parent_work=self.work,
+            parent_work=cls.work,
             isbn_10="0000000000",
             physical_format="Paperback",
             published_date=datetime.datetime(2019, 4, 9, 0, 0, tzinfo=timezone.utc),
         )
-        self.second_edition = models.Edition.objects.create(
+        cls.second_edition = models.Edition.objects.create(
             title="Another Edition",
-            parent_work=self.work,
+            parent_work=cls.work,
             isbn_10="1111111111",
             openlibrary_key="hello",
             pages=150,
         )
-        self.third_edition = models.Edition.objects.create(
+        cls.third_edition = models.Edition.objects.create(
             title="Another Edition with annoying ISBN",
-            parent_work=self.work,
+            parent_work=cls.work,
             isbn_10="022222222X",
         )
 
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_setup.py b/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_setup.py
index d2bdba340..7547b5646 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_setup.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_setup.py
@@ -14,9 +14,9 @@ class SetupViews(TestCase):
     """activity feed, statuses, dms"""
 
     @classmethod
-    def setUpTestData(self):  # pylint: disable=bad-classmethod-argument
+    def setUpTestData(cls):
         """we need basic test data and mocks"""
-        self.site = models.SiteSettings.objects.create(install_mode=True)
+        cls.site = models.SiteSettings.objects.create(install_mode=True)
 
     def setUp(self):
         """individual test setup"""