diff --git a/tests/unit/test_icephys_metadata_tables.py b/tests/unit/test_icephys_metadata_tables.py
index 1b311a9e9..aab885d84 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_icephys_metadata_tables.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_icephys_metadata_tables.py
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ def test_init_with_empty_category_tables_and_missing_required_tables(self):
         categories = [DynamicTable(name=val,
                                    description=val+" description",
                                    ) for val in category_names]
-        ret = IntracellularRecordingsTable(category_tables=categories)
+        ret = IntracellularRecordingsTable(category_tables=categories, categories=category_names
         self.assertEqual(ret.name, 'intracellular_recordings')
         self.assertIsNotNone(ret.electrodes)
         self.assertIsInstance(ret.electrodes, IntracellularElectrodesTable)