diff --git a/crates/api_common/src/context.rs b/crates/api_common/src/context.rs
index b8eeda3e9..8d8dc5013 100644
--- a/crates/api_common/src/context.rs
+++ b/crates/api_common/src/context.rs
@@ -55,16 +55,32 @@ impl LemmyContext {
     &self.rate_limit_cell
   }
 
-  /// Initialize a context for use in tests, doesn't allow network requests.
+  /// Initialize a context for use in tests, optionally blocks network requests.
   ///
   /// Do not use this in production code.
   pub async fn init_test_context() -> Data<LemmyContext> {
+    Self::build_test_context(true).await
+  }
+
+  /// Initialize a context for use in tests, with network requests allowed.
+  /// TODO: get rid of this if possible.
+  ///
+  /// Do not use this in production code.
+  pub async fn init_test_context_with_networking() -> Data<LemmyContext> {
+    Self::build_test_context(false).await
+  }
+
+  async fn build_test_context(block_networking: bool) -> Data<LemmyContext> {
     // call this to run migrations
     let pool = build_db_pool_for_tests().await;
 
     let client = client_builder(&SETTINGS).build().expect("build client");
 
-    let client = ClientBuilder::new(client).with(BlockedMiddleware).build();
+    let mut client = ClientBuilder::new(client);
+    if block_networking {
+      client = client.with(BlockedMiddleware);
+    }
+    let client = client.build();
     let secret = Secret {
       id: 0,
       jwt_secret: String::new(),
diff --git a/crates/api_common/src/request.rs b/crates/api_common/src/request.rs
index 8b355c866..954a6cd88 100644
--- a/crates/api_common/src/request.rs
+++ b/crates/api_common/src/request.rs
@@ -288,12 +288,14 @@ mod tests {
     context::LemmyContext,
     request::{extract_opengraph_data, fetch_link_metadata},
   };
+  use serial_test::serial;
   use url::Url;
 
   // These helped with testing
   #[tokio::test]
+  #[serial]
   async fn test_link_metadata() {
-    let context = LemmyContext::init_test_context().await;
+    let context = LemmyContext::init_test_context_with_networking().await;
     let sample_url = Url::parse("https://gitlab.com/IzzyOnDroid/repo/-/wikis/FAQ").unwrap();
     let sample_res = fetch_link_metadata(&sample_url, false, &context)
       .await
@@ -315,7 +317,10 @@ mod tests {
       sample_res.image
     );
     assert_eq!(None, sample_res.embed_video_url);
-    assert_eq!(None, sample_res.content_type);
+    assert_eq!(
+      Some(mime::TEXT_HTML_UTF_8.to_string()),
+      sample_res.content_type
+    );
     assert_eq!(None, sample_res.thumbnail);
   }