diff --git a/spring-data-rest-webmvc/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/rest/webmvc/AbstractControllerIntegrationTests.java b/spring-data-rest-webmvc/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/rest/webmvc/AbstractControllerIntegrationTests.java
index 21fcb4ad8..da93e4b9e 100644
--- a/spring-data-rest-webmvc/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/rest/webmvc/AbstractControllerIntegrationTests.java
+++ b/spring-data-rest-webmvc/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/rest/webmvc/AbstractControllerIntegrationTests.java
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@ import org.springframework.data.rest.core.invoke.RepositoryInvokerFactory;
 import org.springframework.data.rest.core.mapping.ResourceMappings;
 import org.springframework.data.rest.core.mapping.ResourceMetadata;
 import org.springframework.data.rest.webmvc.config.RepositoryRestMvcConfiguration;
-import org.springframework.data.rest.webmvc.jpa.JpaRepositoryConfig;
 import org.springframework.mock.web.MockHttpServletRequest;
 import org.springframework.test.context.ContextConfiguration;
 import org.springframework.test.context.junit4.SpringJUnit4ClassRunner;
@@ -39,8 +38,8 @@ import org.springframework.web.context.request.ServletWebRequest;
  * @author Oliver Gierke
  */
 @RunWith(SpringJUnit4ClassRunner.class)
-@ContextConfiguration(classes = { RepositoryRestMvcConfiguration.class, JpaRepositoryConfig.class })
-public class AbstractControllerIntegrationTests {
+@ContextConfiguration(classes = { RepositoryRestMvcConfiguration.class })
+public abstract class AbstractControllerIntegrationTests {
 
 	public static final Path BASE = new Path("http://localhost");
 
diff --git a/spring-data-rest-webmvc/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/rest/webmvc/RepositorySearchControllerIntegrationTests.java b/spring-data-rest-webmvc/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/rest/webmvc/RepositorySearchControllerIntegrationTests.java
index d2784929f..a7b7f9b4b 100644
--- a/spring-data-rest-webmvc/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/rest/webmvc/RepositorySearchControllerIntegrationTests.java
+++ b/spring-data-rest-webmvc/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/rest/webmvc/RepositorySearchControllerIntegrationTests.java
@@ -18,27 +18,40 @@ package org.springframework.data.rest.webmvc;
 import static org.hamcrest.CoreMatchers.*;
 import static org.junit.Assert.*;
 
+import org.junit.Before;
 import org.junit.Test;
 import org.springframework.beans.factory.annotation.Autowired;
 import org.springframework.data.rest.core.mapping.ResourceMetadata;
 import org.springframework.data.rest.webmvc.ResourceTester.HasSelfLink;
 import org.springframework.data.rest.webmvc.jpa.CreditCard;
+import org.springframework.data.rest.webmvc.jpa.JpaRepositoryConfig;
 import org.springframework.data.rest.webmvc.jpa.Order;
 import org.springframework.data.rest.webmvc.jpa.Person;
+import org.springframework.data.rest.webmvc.jpa.PersonLoader;
 import org.springframework.hateoas.PagedResources;
 import org.springframework.hateoas.Resource;
 import org.springframework.hateoas.Resources;
 import org.springframework.http.ResponseEntity;
+import org.springframework.test.context.ContextConfiguration;
+import org.springframework.transaction.annotation.Transactional;
 
 /**
  * Integration tests for the {@link RepositorySearchController}.
  * 
  * @author Oliver Gierke
  */
+@ContextConfiguration(classes = JpaRepositoryConfig.class)
+@Transactional
 public class RepositorySearchControllerIntegrationTests extends AbstractControllerIntegrationTests {
 
+	@Autowired PersonLoader loader;
 	@Autowired RepositorySearchController controller;
 
+	@Before
+	public void setUp() {
+		loader.populateRepository();
+	}
+
 	@Test
 	public void rendersCorrectSearchLinksForPersons() {
 
diff --git a/spring-data-rest-webmvc/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/rest/webmvc/jpa/JpaWebTests.java b/spring-data-rest-webmvc/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/rest/webmvc/jpa/JpaWebTests.java
index d653d268f..bbca18dfa 100644
--- a/spring-data-rest-webmvc/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/rest/webmvc/jpa/JpaWebTests.java
+++ b/spring-data-rest-webmvc/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/rest/webmvc/jpa/JpaWebTests.java
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import static org.springframework.test.web.servlet.result.MockMvcResultMatchers.
 
 import java.util.Arrays;
 
+import org.junit.Before;
 import org.junit.Test;
 import org.springframework.beans.factory.annotation.Autowired;
 import org.springframework.data.rest.core.mapping.ResourceMappings;
@@ -34,12 +35,24 @@ import org.springframework.transaction.annotation.Transactional;
  * 
  * @author Oliver Gierke
  */
-@ContextConfiguration(classes = JpaRepositoryConfig.class)
 @Transactional
+@ContextConfiguration(classes = JpaRepositoryConfig.class)
 public class JpaWebTests extends AbstractWebIntegrationTests {
 
+	@Autowired PersonLoader loader;
 	@Autowired ResourceMappings mappings;
 
+	/* 
+	 * (non-Javadoc)
+	 * @see org.springframework.data.rest.webmvc.AbstractWebIntegrationTests#setUp()
+	 */
+	@Override
+	@Before
+	public void setUp() {
+		loader.populateRepository();
+		super.setUp();
+	}
+
 	/* 
 	 * (non-Javadoc)
 	 * @see org.springframework.data.rest.webmvc.AbstractWebIntegrationTests#expectedRootLinkRels()
diff --git a/spring-data-rest-webmvc/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/rest/webmvc/jpa/PersonLoader.java b/spring-data-rest-webmvc/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/rest/webmvc/jpa/PersonLoader.java
index 941be0298..956ce6599 100644
--- a/spring-data-rest-webmvc/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/rest/webmvc/jpa/PersonLoader.java
+++ b/spring-data-rest-webmvc/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/rest/webmvc/jpa/PersonLoader.java
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ package org.springframework.data.rest.webmvc.jpa;
 
 import java.util.Arrays;
 
-import org.springframework.beans.factory.InitializingBean;
 import org.springframework.beans.factory.annotation.Autowired;
 import org.springframework.stereotype.Component;
 
@@ -10,12 +9,21 @@ import org.springframework.stereotype.Component;
  * @author Jon Brisbin
  */
 @Component
-public class PersonLoader implements InitializingBean {
+public class PersonLoader {
 
-	@Autowired PersonRepository people;
+	private final PersonRepository people;
+
+	@Autowired
+	public PersonLoader(PersonRepository people) {
+		this.people = people;
+	}
+
+	public void populateRepository() {
+
+		if (people.count() != 0) {
+			return;
+		}
 
-	@Override
-	public void afterPropertiesSet() throws Exception {
 		Person billyBob = people.save(new Person("Billy Bob", "Thornton"));
 
 		Person john = new Person("John", "Doe");
@@ -27,5 +35,4 @@ public class PersonLoader implements InitializingBean {
 
 		people.save(Arrays.asList(john, jane));
 	}
-
 }