diff --git a/src/builtins/tests/test_tests.rs b/src/builtins/tests/test_tests.rs
index ecfbf3058..8346a50e6 100644
--- a/src/builtins/tests/test_tests.rs
+++ b/src/builtins/tests/test_tests.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 use crate::tests::prelude::*;
 
 fn run_one_test_test_mbracket(expected: i32, lst: &[&str], bracket: bool) -> bool {
-    let parser = Parser::principal_parser();
+    let parser = TestParser::new();
     let mut argv = Vec::new();
     if bracket {
         argv.push(L!("[").to_owned());
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ fn run_one_test_test_mbracket(expected: i32, lst: &[&str], bracket: bool) -> boo
     let io_chain = IoChain::new();
     let mut streams = IoStreams::new(&mut out, &mut err, &io_chain);
 
-    let result: Option<i32> = builtin_test(parser, &mut streams, &mut argv);
+    let result: Option<i32> = builtin_test(&parser, &mut streams, &mut argv);
 
     if result != Some(expected) {
         let got = match result {
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ fn run_test_test(expected: i32, lst: &[&str]) -> bool {
 
 fn test_test_brackets() {
     // Ensure [ knows it needs a ].
-    let parser = Parser::principal_parser();
+    let parser = TestParser::new();
 
     let mut out = OutputStream::Null;
     let mut err = OutputStream::Null;
@@ -58,16 +58,16 @@ fn test_test_brackets() {
 
     let args1 = &mut [L!("["), L!("foo")];
     assert_eq!(
-        builtin_test(parser, &mut streams, args1),
+        builtin_test(&parser, &mut streams, args1),
         STATUS_INVALID_ARGS
     );
 
     let args2 = &mut [L!("["), L!("foo"), L!("]")];
-    assert_eq!(builtin_test(parser, &mut streams, args2), STATUS_CMD_OK);
+    assert_eq!(builtin_test(&parser, &mut streams, args2), STATUS_CMD_OK);
 
     let args3 = &mut [L!("["), L!("foo"), L!("]"), L!("bar")];
     assert_eq!(
-        builtin_test(parser, &mut streams, args3),
+        builtin_test(&parser, &mut streams, args3),
         STATUS_INVALID_ARGS
     );
 }
diff --git a/src/tests/debounce.rs b/src/tests/debounce.rs
index 13687a04f..8a07e7c6b 100644
--- a/src/tests/debounce.rs
+++ b/src/tests/debounce.rs
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@
 
 use crate::common::ScopeGuard;
 use crate::global_safety::RelaxedAtomicBool;
-use crate::parser::Parser;
 use crate::reader::{reader_pop, reader_push, Reader, ReaderConfig};
 use crate::tests::prelude::*;
 use crate::threads::{iothread_drain_all, iothread_service_main, Debounce};
@@ -16,6 +15,7 @@
 #[serial]
 fn test_debounce() {
     let _cleanup = test_init();
+    let parser = TestParser::new();
     // Run 8 functions using a condition variable.
     // Only the first and last should run.
     let db = Debounce::new(Duration::from_secs(0));
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ struct Context {
     ctx.cv.notify_all();
 
     // Wait until the last completion is done.
-    let mut reader = reader_push(Parser::principal_parser(), L!(""), ReaderConfig::default());
+    let mut reader = reader_push(&parser, L!(""), ReaderConfig::default());
     let _pop = ScopeGuard::new((), |()| reader_pop());
     while !ctx.completion_ran.last().unwrap().load() {
         iothread_service_main(&mut reader);
diff --git a/src/tests/env_universal_common.rs b/src/tests/env_universal_common.rs
index a2c4130b4..39770d276 100644
--- a/src/tests/env_universal_common.rs
+++ b/src/tests/env_universal_common.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@
 use crate::common::ENCODE_DIRECT_BASE;
 use crate::env::{EnvVar, EnvVarFlags, VarTable};
 use crate::env_universal_common::{CallbackDataList, EnvUniversal, UvarFormat};
-use crate::parser::Parser;
 use crate::reader::{reader_pop, reader_push, ReaderConfig};
 use crate::tests::prelude::*;
 use crate::threads::{iothread_drain_all, iothread_perform};
@@ -44,8 +43,9 @@ fn test_universal() {
     let _cleanup = test_init();
     let _ = std::fs::remove_dir_all("test/fish_uvars_test/");
     std::fs::create_dir_all("test/fish_uvars_test/").unwrap();
+    let parser = TestParser::new();
 
-    let mut reader = reader_push(Parser::principal_parser(), L!(""), ReaderConfig::default());
+    let mut reader = reader_push(&parser, L!(""), ReaderConfig::default());
     let _pop = ScopeGuard::new((), |()| reader_pop());
 
     let threads = 1;
diff --git a/src/tests/expand.rs b/src/tests/expand.rs
index a456e0300..8fac6c245 100644
--- a/src/tests/expand.rs
+++ b/src/tests/expand.rs
@@ -359,13 +359,13 @@ fn test_expand_overflow() {
     let vals: Vec<WString> = (1..=64).map(|i| i.to_wstring()).collect();
     let expansion = WString::from_str(&str::repeat("$bigvar", 64));
 
-    let parser = Parser::principal_parser();
+    let parser = TestParser::new();
     parser.vars().push(true);
     let set = parser.vars().set(L!("bigvar"), EnvMode::LOCAL, vals);
     assert_eq!(set, EnvStackSetResult::Ok);
 
     let mut errors = ParseErrorList::new();
-    let ctx = OperationContext::foreground(parser, Box::new(no_cancel), EXPANSION_LIMIT_DEFAULT);
+    let ctx = OperationContext::foreground(&parser, Box::new(no_cancel), EXPANSION_LIMIT_DEFAULT);
 
     // We accept only 1024 completions.
     let mut output = CompletionReceiver::new(1024);