diff --git a/inc/auth.php b/inc/auth.php
index 7fa61aa18af43a4d9760ed426f725217aa38e229..e1d7a645a6e5f74520aa73fc6a87bc0469e30548 100644
--- a/inc/auth.php
+++ b/inc/auth.php
@@ -308,6 +308,9 @@ function auth_browseruid() {
  * @return  string
  */
 function auth_cookiesalt($addsession = false, $secure = false) {
+    if (defined('SIMPLE_TEST')) {
+        return 'test';
+    }
     global $conf;
     $file = $conf['metadir'].'/_htcookiesalt';
     if ($secure || !file_exists($file)) {