diff --git a/tests/backends/tests.py b/tests/backends/tests.py
index 611aa2cb6d..bb785a22de 100644
--- a/tests/backends/tests.py
+++ b/tests/backends/tests.py
@@ -388,6 +388,8 @@ class PostgresNewConnectionTests(TestCase):
         new_connection = new_connections[DEFAULT_DB_ALIAS]
         try:
             new_connection.settings_dict['AUTOCOMMIT'] = False
+            # Open a database connection.
+            new_connection.cursor()
             self.assertFalse(new_connection.get_autocommit())
         finally:
             new_connection.close()