diff --git a/skimage/io/tests/test_freeimage.py b/skimage/io/tests/test_freeimage.py
index 50fef9ee..478a1a90 100644
--- a/skimage/io/tests/test_freeimage.py
+++ b/skimage/io/tests/test_freeimage.py
@@ -14,6 +14,16 @@ try:
 except OSError:
     FI_available = False
 
+
+def setup_module(self):
+    """The effect of the `plugin.use` call may be overridden by later imports.
+    Call `use_plugin` directly before the tests to ensure that freeimage is
+    used.
+
+    """
+    sio.use_plugin('freeimage')
+
+
 @skipif(not FI_available)
 def test_imread():
     img = sio.imread(os.path.join(si.data_dir, 'color.png'))
diff --git a/skimage/io/tests/test_pil.py b/skimage/io/tests/test_pil.py
index 021c74ea..23c4d933 100644
--- a/skimage/io/tests/test_pil.py
+++ b/skimage/io/tests/test_pil.py
@@ -18,6 +18,13 @@ else:
     PIL_available = True
 
 
+def setup_module(self):
+    """The effect of the `plugin.use` call may be overridden by later imports.
+    Call `use_plugin` directly before the tests to ensure that PIL is used.
+
+    """
+    use_plugin('pil')
+
 @skipif(not PIL_available)
 def test_imread_flatten():
     # a color image is flattened