diff --git a/readthedocs/rtd_tests/utils.py b/readthedocs/rtd_tests/utils.py
index 9223837eccb..d788faa4c74 100644
--- a/readthedocs/rtd_tests/utils.py
+++ b/readthedocs/rtd_tests/utils.py
@@ -1,15 +1,18 @@
 """Utility functions for use in tests."""
+
 from __future__ import absolute_import
+
 import logging
+import subprocess
 from os import chdir, environ, getcwd
 from os.path import abspath, join as pjoin
 from shutil import copytree
-import subprocess
 from tempfile import mkdtemp
 
 from django_dynamic_fixture import new
 from django.contrib.auth.models import User
 
+
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
@@ -31,7 +34,19 @@ def make_test_git():
     env = environ.copy()
     env['GIT_DIR'] = pjoin(directory, '.git')
     chdir(directory)
+
+    # Initialize and configure
     log.info(check_output(['git', 'init'] + [directory], env=env))
+    log.info(check_output(
+        ['git', 'config', 'user.email', 'dev@readthedocs.org'],
+        env=env
+    ))
+    log.info(check_output(
+        ['git', 'config', 'user.name', 'Read the Docs'],
+        env=env
+    ))
+
+    # Set up the actual repository
     log.info(check_output(['git', 'add', '.'], env=env))
     log.info(check_output(['git', 'commit', '-m"init"'], env=env))
     # Add repo itself as submodule