diff --git a/lemur/factory.py b/lemur/factory.py
index 9a13c0e5..13b9c8ba 100644
--- a/lemur/factory.py
+++ b/lemur/factory.py
@@ -153,9 +153,10 @@ def install_plugins(app):
     """
     Installs new issuers that are not currently bundled with Lemur.
 
-    :param settings:
+    :param app:
     :return:
     """
+    from lemur.plugins import plugins
     from lemur.plugins.base import register
     # entry_points={
     #    'lemur.plugins': [
@@ -170,3 +171,11 @@ def install_plugins(app):
             app.logger.error("Failed to load plugin %r:\n%s\n" % (ep.name, traceback.format_exc()))
         else:
             register(plugin)
+
+    # ensure that we have some way to notify
+    with app.app_context():
+        try:
+            slug = app.config.get("LEMUR_DEFAULT_NOTIFICATION_PLUGIN", "email-notification")
+            plugins.get(slug)
+        except KeyError:
+            raise Exception("Unable to location notification plugin: {slug}. Ensure that LEMUR_DEFAULT_NOTIFICATION_PLUGIN is set to a valid and installed notification plugin.".format(slug=slug))
diff --git a/lemur/notifications/service.py b/lemur/notifications/service.py
index 400f5cac..0b2d353a 100644
--- a/lemur/notifications/service.py
+++ b/lemur/notifications/service.py
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ def create_default_expiration_notifications(name, recipients):
             inter.extend(options)
             n = create(
                 label="{name}_{interval}_DAY".format(name=name, interval=i),
-                plugin_name="email-notification",
+                plugin_name=current_app.config.get("LEMUR_DEFAULT_NOTIFICATION_PLUGIN", "email-notification"),
                 options=list(inter),
                 description="Default {interval} day expiration notification".format(interval=i),
                 certificates=[]
diff --git a/lemur/tests/conf.py b/lemur/tests/conf.py
index fa175519..c4c5bbd9 100644
--- a/lemur/tests/conf.py
+++ b/lemur/tests/conf.py
@@ -46,7 +46,6 @@ LEMUR_DEFAULT_LOCATION = 'Los Gatos'
 LEMUR_DEFAULT_ORGANIZATION = 'Example, Inc.'
 LEMUR_DEFAULT_ORGANIZATIONAL_UNIT = 'Example'
 
-
 # Database
 
 # modify this if you are not using a local database
@@ -54,7 +53,6 @@ SQLALCHEMY_DATABASE_URI = 'postgresql://lemur:lemur@localhost:5432/lemur'
 SQLALCHEMY_TRACK_MODIFICATIONS = False
 
 # AWS
-
 LEMUR_INSTANCE_PROFILE = 'Lemur'
 
 # Issuers
diff --git a/lemur/tests/conftest.py b/lemur/tests/conftest.py
index eb9d7491..834b50d9 100644
--- a/lemur/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/lemur/tests/conftest.py
@@ -140,6 +140,22 @@ def issuer_plugin():
     return TestIssuerPlugin
 
 
+@pytest.fixture
+def notification_plugin():
+    from lemur.plugins.base import register
+    from .plugins.notification_plugin import TestNotificationPlugin
+    register(TestNotificationPlugin)
+    return TestNotificationPlugin
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def destination_plugin():
+    from lemur.plugins.base import register
+    from .plugins.destination_plugin import TestDestinationPlugin
+    register(TestDestinationPlugin)
+    return TestDestinationPlugin
+
+
 @pytest.yield_fixture(scope="function")
 def logged_in_user(session, app):
     with app.test_request_context():
diff --git a/lemur/tests/factories.py b/lemur/tests/factories.py
index e37325ae..c39aef9e 100644
--- a/lemur/tests/factories.py
+++ b/lemur/tests/factories.py
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ class AuthorityFactory(BaseFactory):
 
 class DestinationFactory(BaseFactory):
     """Destination factory."""
-    plugin_name = Sequence(lambda n: 'destination{0}'.format(n))
+    plugin_name = 'test-destination'
     label = Sequence(lambda n: 'destination{0}'.format(n))
 
     class Meta:
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ class DestinationFactory(BaseFactory):
 
 class NotificationFactory(BaseFactory):
     """Notification factory."""
-    plugin_name = Sequence(lambda n: 'notification{0}'.format(n))
+    plugin_name = 'test-notification'
     label = Sequence(lambda n: 'notification{0}'.format(n))
 
     class Meta:
diff --git a/lemur/tests/plugins/destination_plugin.py b/lemur/tests/plugins/destination_plugin.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f77085ec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lemur/tests/plugins/destination_plugin.py
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+from lemur.plugins.bases import DestinationPlugin
+
+
+class TestDestinationPlugin(DestinationPlugin):
+    title = 'Test'
+    slug = 'test-destination'
+    description = 'Enables testing'
+
+    author = 'Kevin Glisson'
+    author_url = 'https://github.com/netflix/lemur.git'
+
+    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        super(TestDestinationPlugin, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
+
+    def upload(self, name, body, private_key, cert_chain, options, **kwargs):
+        return
diff --git a/lemur/tests/plugins/notification_plugin.py b/lemur/tests/plugins/notification_plugin.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4ebba3df
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lemur/tests/plugins/notification_plugin.py
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+from lemur.plugins.bases import NotificationPlugin
+
+
+class TestNotificationPlugin(NotificationPlugin):
+    title = 'Test'
+    slug = 'test-notification'
+    description = 'Enables testing'
+
+    author = 'Kevin Glisson'
+    author_url = 'https://github.com/netflix/lemur.git'
+
+    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        super(TestNotificationPlugin, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def send(event_type, message, targets, options, **kwargs):
+        return
diff --git a/lemur/tests/test_destinations.py b/lemur/tests/test_destinations.py
index 0a52b54c..d4c2444a 100644
--- a/lemur/tests/test_destinations.py
+++ b/lemur/tests/test_destinations.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ from lemur.destinations.views import *  # noqa
 from .vectors import VALID_ADMIN_HEADER_TOKEN, VALID_USER_HEADER_TOKEN
 
 
-def test_destination_input_schema(client, destination):
+def test_destination_input_schema(client, destination_plugin, destination):
     from lemur.destinations.schemas import DestinationInputSchema
 
     input_data = {
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ def test_destination_input_schema(client, destination):
         'description': 'my destination',
         'active': True,
         'plugin': {
-            'slug': 'aws-destination'
+            'slug': 'test-destination'
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/lemur/tests/test_notifications.py b/lemur/tests/test_notifications.py
index bde3c81e..65911e29 100644
--- a/lemur/tests/test_notifications.py
+++ b/lemur/tests/test_notifications.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ from lemur.notifications.views import *  # noqa
 from .vectors import VALID_ADMIN_HEADER_TOKEN, VALID_USER_HEADER_TOKEN
 
 
-def test_notification_input_schema(client, notification):
+def test_notification_input_schema(client, notification_plugin, notification):
     from lemur.notifications.schemas import NotificationInputSchema
 
     input_data = {
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ def test_notification_input_schema(client, notification):
         'description': 'my notification',
         'active': True,
         'plugin': {
-            'slug': 'email-notification'
+            'slug': 'test-notification'
         }
     }
 
@@ -29,8 +29,8 @@ def test_notification_input_schema(client, notification):
     (VALID_ADMIN_HEADER_TOKEN, 200),
     ('', 401)
 ])
-def test_notification_get(client, token, status):
-    assert client.get(api.url_for(Notifications, notification_id=1), headers=token).status_code == status
+def test_notification_get(client, notification_plugin, notification, token, status):
+    assert client.get(api.url_for(Notifications, notification_id=notification.id), headers=token).status_code == status
 
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("token,status", [
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ def test_notification_list_post_(client, token, status):
     (VALID_ADMIN_HEADER_TOKEN, 200),
     ('', 401)
 ])
-def test_notification_list_get(client, token, status):
+def test_notification_list_get(client, notification_plugin, notification, token, status):
     assert client.get(api.url_for(NotificationsList), headers=token).status_code == status