diff --git a/tests/__init__.py b/tests/__init__.py
index bc0468a6d..3926fc5ff 100644
--- a/tests/__init__.py
+++ b/tests/__init__.py
@@ -3,3 +3,6 @@ import os
 if os.name == 'nt':
     import win32file
     win32file._setmaxstdio(2048)
+else:
+    import resource
+    resource.setrlimit(resource.RLIMIT_NOFILE, (2048, 2048))