diff --git a/tests/sshserver.py b/tests/sshserver.py
index d976050..4b4c556 100644
--- a/tests/sshserver.py
+++ b/tests/sshserver.py
@@ -77,14 +77,14 @@ class Server (paramiko.ServerInterface):
         return True
 
 
-def run_ssh_server(app):
+def run_ssh_server(running=True):
     # now connect
     sock = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
     sock.setsockopt(socket.SOL_SOCKET, socket.SO_REUSEADDR, 1)
     sock.bind(('127.0.0.1', 2200))
     sock.listen(100)
 
-    while not app._tear_down:
+    while running:
         client, addr = sock.accept()
         print('Got a connection!')
 
@@ -120,4 +120,4 @@ def run_ssh_server(app):
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
-    run_ssh_server(False)
+    run_ssh_server()
diff --git a/tests/test_app.py b/tests/test_app.py
index 4e9d2bc..555ce9a 100644
--- a/tests/test_app.py
+++ b/tests/test_app.py
@@ -17,11 +17,10 @@ handler.DELAY = 0.1
 
 class TestApp(AsyncHTTPTestCase):
 
-    _tear_down = False
+    _is_running = False
 
     def get_app(self):
         loop = self.io_loop
-        self._tear_down = False
         options.debug = True
         options.policy = random.choice(['warning', 'autoadd'])
         options.hostFile = ''
@@ -31,7 +30,11 @@ class TestApp(AsyncHTTPTestCase):
 
     @classmethod
     def tearDownClass(cls):
-        cls._tear_down = True
+        cls._is_running = True
+
+    @classmethod
+    def __bool__(cls):
+        return cls._is_running
 
     def test_app_with_invalid_form(self):
         response = self.fetch('/')