diff --git a/suitcase/mongo_normalized/__init__.py b/suitcase/mongo_normalized/__init__.py
index af68543..6a2b478 100644
--- a/suitcase/mongo_normalized/__init__.py
+++ b/suitcase/mongo_normalized/__init__.py
@@ -83,9 +83,8 @@ def __init__(
         self._asset_registry_db = assets_db
         self._ignore_duplicates = ignore_duplicates
         self._resource_uid_unique = resource_uid_unique
-        self._create_indexes()
 
-    def _create_indexes(self):
+    def create_indexes(self):
         """
         Create indexes on the various collections.
 
diff --git a/suitcase/mongo_normalized/tests/conftest.py b/suitcase/mongo_normalized/tests/conftest.py
index 6f365cb..e4e5157 100644
--- a/suitcase/mongo_normalized/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/suitcase/mongo_normalized/tests/conftest.py
@@ -2,4 +2,4 @@
 from ophyd.tests.conftest import hw  # noqa
 from suitcase.utils.tests.conftest import (  # noqa
     example_data, generate_data, plan_type, detector_list, event_type)
-from .fixtures import db_factory  # noqa
+from .fixtures import db_factory, db_factory_no_indexes  # noqa
diff --git a/suitcase/mongo_normalized/tests/fixtures.py b/suitcase/mongo_normalized/tests/fixtures.py
index 2fca399..e0c3103 100644
--- a/suitcase/mongo_normalized/tests/fixtures.py
+++ b/suitcase/mongo_normalized/tests/fixtures.py
@@ -4,6 +4,23 @@
 import mongomock
 import pytest
 import uuid
+from suitcase.mongo_normalized import Serializer
+
+
+@pytest.fixture()
+def db_factory_no_indexes(request):
+    def inner():
+        database_name = f'test-{str(uuid.uuid4())}'
+        uri = 'mongodb://localhost:27017/'
+        client = mongomock.MongoClient(uri)
+        db = client[database_name]
+
+        def drop():
+            client.drop_database(database_name)
+
+        request.addfinalizer(drop)
+        return db
+    return inner
 
 
 @pytest.fixture()
@@ -12,10 +29,13 @@ def inner():
         database_name = f'test-{str(uuid.uuid4())}'
         uri = 'mongodb://localhost:27017/'
         client = mongomock.MongoClient(uri)
+        db = client[database_name]
+        serializer = Serializer(db, db)
+        serializer.create_indexes()
 
         def drop():
             client.drop_database(database_name)
 
         request.addfinalizer(drop)
-        return client[database_name]
+        return db
     return inner
diff --git a/suitcase/mongo_normalized/tests/tests.py b/suitcase/mongo_normalized/tests/tests.py
index 2ba7b5a..9bfac81 100644
--- a/suitcase/mongo_normalized/tests/tests.py
+++ b/suitcase/mongo_normalized/tests/tests.py
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ def test_duplicates(db_factory, example_data):
     metadatastore_db = db_factory()
     asset_registry_db = db_factory()
     serializer = Serializer(metadatastore_db, asset_registry_db)
+
     for item in documents:
         serializer(*item)
     for item in documents:
@@ -204,12 +205,10 @@ def test_index_creation(db_factory):
     assert indexes["descriptor_-1_time_1"]
 
 
-def test_resource_uid_unique(db_factory):
-    db = db_factory()
-    print(type(db))
-    metadatastore_db = db_factory()
-    asset_registry_db = db_factory()
-    Serializer(metadatastore_db, asset_registry_db, resource_uid_unique=True)
+def test_resource_uid_unique(db_factory_no_indexes):
+    metadatastore_db = db_factory_no_indexes()
+    asset_registry_db = db_factory_no_indexes()
+    Serializer(metadatastore_db, asset_registry_db, resource_uid_unique=True).create_indexes()
 
     indexes = asset_registry_db.resource.index_information()
     assert indexes["uid_1"].get("unique")