diff --git a/tempest/common/accounts.py b/tempest/common/accounts.py
index fc8e6a5..6d376d6 100644
--- a/tempest/common/accounts.py
+++ b/tempest/common/accounts.py
@@ -38,7 +38,8 @@
     def __init__(self, identity_version=None, name=None):
         super(Accounts, self).__init__(identity_version=identity_version,
                                        name=name)
-        if os.path.isfile(CONF.auth.test_accounts_file):
+        if (CONF.auth.test_accounts_file and
+                os.path.isfile(CONF.auth.test_accounts_file)):
             accounts = read_accounts_yaml(CONF.auth.test_accounts_file)
             self.use_default_creds = False
         else:
diff --git a/tempest/common/credentials.py b/tempest/common/credentials.py
index f3ddab9..c34df48 100644
--- a/tempest/common/credentials.py
+++ b/tempest/common/credentials.py
@@ -38,7 +38,8 @@
             network_resources=network_resources,
             identity_version=identity_version)
     else:
-        if os.path.isfile(CONF.auth.test_accounts_file):
+        if (CONF.auth.test_accounts_file and
+                os.path.isfile(CONF.auth.test_accounts_file)):
             # Most params are not relevant for pre-created accounts
             return accounts.Accounts(name=name,
                                      identity_version=identity_version)
@@ -56,7 +57,8 @@
     if CONF.auth.allow_tenant_isolation:
         return is_admin
     # Check whether test accounts file has the admin specified or not
-    elif os.path.isfile(CONF.auth.test_accounts_file):
+    elif (CONF.auth.test_accounts_file and
+            os.path.isfile(CONF.auth.test_accounts_file)):
         check_accounts = accounts.Accounts(name='check_admin')
         if not check_accounts.admin_available():
             is_admin = False
diff --git a/tempest/tests/common/test_accounts.py b/tempest/tests/common/test_accounts.py
index 0f8fa92..6371e49 100644
--- a/tempest/tests/common/test_accounts.py
+++ b/tempest/tests/common/test_accounts.py
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@
         self.useFixture(mockpatch.Patch(
             'tempest.common.accounts.read_accounts_yaml',
             return_value=self.test_accounts))
-        cfg.CONF.set_default('test_accounts_file', '', group='auth')
+        cfg.CONF.set_default('test_accounts_file', 'fake_path', group='auth')
         self.useFixture(mockpatch.Patch('os.path.isfile', return_value=True))
 
     def _get_hash_list(self, accounts_list):
diff --git a/tempest/tests/common/test_admin_available.py b/tempest/tests/common/test_admin_available.py
index 5070f22..4e3aa4c 100644
--- a/tempest/tests/common/test_admin_available.py
+++ b/tempest/tests/common/test_admin_available.py
@@ -52,6 +52,8 @@
             self.useFixture(mockpatch.Patch(
                 'tempest.common.accounts.read_accounts_yaml',
                 return_value=accounts))
+            cfg.CONF.set_default('test_accounts_file',
+                                 use_accounts_file, group='auth')
             self.useFixture(mockpatch.Patch('os.path.isfile',
                                             return_value=True))
         else: