diff --git a/test/irb/test_init.rb b/test/irb/test_init.rb
index 3207c2898..c423fa112 100644
--- a/test/irb/test_init.rb
+++ b/test/irb/test_init.rb
@@ -274,7 +274,6 @@ def setup
       @original_irbrc = ENV["IRBRC"]
       # To prevent the test from using the user's .irbrc file
       ENV["HOME"] = @home = Dir.mktmpdir
-      IRB.instance_variable_set(:@existing_rc_name_generators, nil)
       super
     end
 
@@ -284,6 +283,7 @@ def teardown
       ENV["HOME"] = @original_home
       File.unlink(@irbrc)
       Dir.rmdir(@home)
+      IRB.instance_variable_set(:@existing_rc_name_generators, nil)
     end
 
     def test_irb_name_converts_non_string_values_to_string