diff --git a/spec/spec_helper.rb b/spec/spec_helper.rb
index 2ddb939..91ce46c 100644
--- a/spec/spec_helper.rb
+++ b/spec/spec_helper.rb
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 TEST_DATABASE = 'couchup_test'
 
 def database
-  @db ||= CouchRest.database("http://#{HOST}:#{PORT}/#{TEST_DATABASE}")
+  @db ||= CouchRest.database!("http://#{HOST}:#{PORT}/#{TEST_DATABASE}")
 end
 
 def reset_data!