diff --git a/scripts/dev/run_pylint_on_tests.py b/scripts/dev/run_pylint_on_tests.py
index ec7ac0651..2ffa2974f 100644
--- a/scripts/dev/run_pylint_on_tests.py
+++ b/scripts/dev/run_pylint_on_tests.py
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ def main():
         'redefined-outer-name',
         'unused-argument',
         'missing-docstring',
+        'protected-access',
         # https://bitbucket.org/logilab/pylint/issue/511/
         'undefined-variable',
     ]
diff --git a/tests/browser/test_webelem.py b/tests/browser/test_webelem.py
index f2fb2a3dc..94fa566d7 100644
--- a/tests/browser/test_webelem.py
+++ b/tests/browser/test_webelem.py
@@ -17,8 +17,6 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 # along with qutebrowser.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
-# pylint: disable=protected-access
-
 """Tests for the webelement utils."""
 
 from unittest import mock
diff --git a/tests/config/test_config.py b/tests/config/test_config.py
index 49312c016..0e70149dd 100644
--- a/tests/config/test_config.py
+++ b/tests/config/test_config.py
@@ -16,8 +16,6 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 # along with qutebrowser.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
-# pylint: disable=protected-access
-
 """Tests for qutebrowser.config.config."""
 
 import os
diff --git a/tests/config/test_configtypes.py b/tests/config/test_configtypes.py
index c97b439c9..ecc348365 100644
--- a/tests/config/test_configtypes.py
+++ b/tests/config/test_configtypes.py
@@ -16,8 +16,6 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 # along with qutebrowser.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
-# pylint: disable=protected-access
-
 """Tests for qutebrowser.config.configtypes."""
 
 import re
diff --git a/tests/keyinput/test_basekeyparser.py b/tests/keyinput/test_basekeyparser.py
index cb3f693f5..d5eadbb5e 100644
--- a/tests/keyinput/test_basekeyparser.py
+++ b/tests/keyinput/test_basekeyparser.py
@@ -17,8 +17,6 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 # along with qutebrowser.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
-# pylint: disable=protected-access
-
 """Tests for BaseKeyParser."""
 
 import sys
diff --git a/tests/keyinput/test_modeparsers.py b/tests/keyinput/test_modeparsers.py
index 47789b5b4..769b8a514 100644
--- a/tests/keyinput/test_modeparsers.py
+++ b/tests/keyinput/test_modeparsers.py
@@ -39,8 +39,6 @@ class TestsNormalKeyParser:
         kp: The NormalKeyParser to be tested.
     """
 
-    # pylint: disable=protected-access
-
     @pytest.yield_fixture(autouse=True)
     def setup(self, monkeypatch, stubs, config_stub, fake_keyconfig):
         """Set up mocks and read the test config."""
diff --git a/tests/mainwindow/statusbar/test_textbase.py b/tests/mainwindow/statusbar/test_textbase.py
index eadf9c46a..94c502299 100644
--- a/tests/mainwindow/statusbar/test_textbase.py
+++ b/tests/mainwindow/statusbar/test_textbase.py
@@ -50,4 +50,4 @@ def test_elided_text(qtbot, elidemode, check):
     label.setText(long_string)
     label.resize(100, 50)
     label.show()
-    assert check(label._elided_text)  # pylint: disable=protected-access
+    assert check(label._elided_text)
diff --git a/tests/misc/test_editor.py b/tests/misc/test_editor.py
index 586bbc2c9..274e720d2 100644
--- a/tests/misc/test_editor.py
+++ b/tests/misc/test_editor.py
@@ -19,8 +19,6 @@
 
 """Tests for qutebrowser.misc.editor."""
 
-# pylint: disable=protected-access
-
 import os
 import os.path
 import logging
@@ -46,7 +44,7 @@ class TestArg:
                             stubs.fake_qprocess())
         self.editor = editor.ExternalEditor(0)
         yield
-        self.editor._cleanup()  # pylint: disable=protected-access
+        self.editor._cleanup()
 
     @pytest.fixture
     def stubbed_config(self, config_stub, monkeypatch):
@@ -229,7 +227,7 @@ class TestErrorMessage:
         monkeypatch.setattr('qutebrowser.misc.editor.config', config_stub)
         self.editor = editor.ExternalEditor(0)
         yield
-        self.editor._cleanup()  # pylint: disable=protected-access
+        self.editor._cleanup()
 
     def test_proc_error(self, caplog):
         """Test on_proc_error."""
diff --git a/tests/misc/test_guiprocess.py b/tests/misc/test_guiprocess.py
index cd3d69af0..a3ec58c6f 100644
--- a/tests/misc/test_guiprocess.py
+++ b/tests/misc/test_guiprocess.py
@@ -17,8 +17,6 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 # along with qutebrowser.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
-# pylint: disable=protected-access
-
 """Tests for qutebrowser.misc.guiprocess."""
 
 import os
diff --git a/tests/misc/test_lineparser.py b/tests/misc/test_lineparser.py
index 62f562560..a54427ce3 100644
--- a/tests/misc/test_lineparser.py
+++ b/tests/misc/test_lineparser.py
@@ -17,8 +17,6 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 # along with qutebrowser.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
-# pylint: disable=protected-access
-
 """Tests for qutebrowser.misc.lineparser."""
 
 import io
diff --git a/tests/misc/test_readline.py b/tests/misc/test_readline.py
index da2d05821..0aa883cc5 100644
--- a/tests/misc/test_readline.py
+++ b/tests/misc/test_readline.py
@@ -19,8 +19,6 @@
 
 """Tests for qutebrowser.misc.readline."""
 
-# pylint: disable=protected-access
-
 import re
 import inspect
 
diff --git a/tests/utils/test_log.py b/tests/utils/test_log.py
index 0adeb0ee1..04e3c5bdc 100644
--- a/tests/utils/test_log.py
+++ b/tests/utils/test_log.py
@@ -17,8 +17,6 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 # along with qutebrowser.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
-# pylint: disable=protected-access
-
 """Tests for qutebrowser.utils.log."""
 
 import logging
diff --git a/tests/utils/test_qtutils.py b/tests/utils/test_qtutils.py
index 3f80c2c83..8466d2471 100644
--- a/tests/utils/test_qtutils.py
+++ b/tests/utils/test_qtutils.py
@@ -928,8 +928,6 @@ class TestEventLoop:
         loop: The EventLoop we're testing.
     """
 
-    # pylint: disable=protected-access
-
     def _assert_executing(self):
         """Slot which gets called from timers to be sure the loop runs."""
         assert self.loop._executing
diff --git a/tests/utils/test_standarddir.py b/tests/utils/test_standarddir.py
index 4981c299a..fbe2c268a 100644
--- a/tests/utils/test_standarddir.py
+++ b/tests/utils/test_standarddir.py
@@ -17,8 +17,6 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 # along with qutebrowser.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
-# pylint: disable=protected-access
-
 """Tests for qutebrowser.utils.standarddir."""
 
 import os
diff --git a/tests/utils/test_urlutils.py b/tests/utils/test_urlutils.py
index cc2478133..cff406a6c 100644
--- a/tests/utils/test_urlutils.py
+++ b/tests/utils/test_urlutils.py
@@ -17,8 +17,6 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 # along with qutebrowser.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
-# pylint: disable=protected-access
-
 """Tests for qutebrowser.utils.urlutils."""
 
 import os.path
diff --git a/tests/utils/test_version.py b/tests/utils/test_version.py
index 3804c2784..80f8f2909 100644
--- a/tests/utils/test_version.py
+++ b/tests/utils/test_version.py
@@ -17,8 +17,6 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 # along with qutebrowser.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
-# pylint: disable=protected-access
-
 """Tests for qutebrowser.utils.version."""
 
 import io
diff --git a/tests/utils/usertypes/test_neighborlist.py b/tests/utils/usertypes/test_neighborlist.py
index ffce4723e..1ec5a0733 100644
--- a/tests/utils/usertypes/test_neighborlist.py
+++ b/tests/utils/usertypes/test_neighborlist.py
@@ -17,8 +17,6 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 # along with qutebrowser.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
-# pylint: disable=protected-access
-
 """Tests for the NeighborList class."""
 
 from qutebrowser.utils import usertypes
diff --git a/tests/utils/usertypes/test_timer.py b/tests/utils/usertypes/test_timer.py
index 04e163ed1..08dc86b8a 100644
--- a/tests/utils/usertypes/test_timer.py
+++ b/tests/utils/usertypes/test_timer.py
@@ -17,8 +17,6 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 # along with qutebrowser.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
-# pylint: disable=protected-access
-
 """Tests for Timer."""
 
 from qutebrowser.utils import usertypes