diff --git a/lang/python/tests/Makefile.am b/lang/python/tests/Makefile.am
index b62b5247..790d8f8f 100644
--- a/lang/python/tests/Makefile.am
+++ b/lang/python/tests/Makefile.am
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ BUILT_SOURCES = gpg.conf gpg-agent.conf pubring-stamp \
            private-keys-v1.d/gpg-sample.stamp
 
 ./private-keys-v1.d/gpg-sample.stamp: $(private_keys)
+	-gpgconf --kill all
 	$(MKDIR_P) ./private-keys-v1.d
 	for k in $(private_keys); do \
           cp $$k private-keys-v1.d/$${k#$(test_srcdir)/}.key; \
diff --git a/lang/qt/tests/Makefile.am b/lang/qt/tests/Makefile.am
index c4665dfa..a662b4cf 100644
--- a/lang/qt/tests/Makefile.am
+++ b/lang/qt/tests/Makefile.am
@@ -77,6 +77,7 @@ export GNUPGHOME := $(abs_builddir)
 
 pubring-stamp: $(top_srcdir)/tests/gpg/pubdemo.asc \
 	             $(top_srcdir)/tests/gpg/secdemo.asc
+	-gpgconf --kill all
 	echo "ignore-invalid-option allow-loopback-pinentry" > $(abs_builddir)/gpg-agent.conf
 	echo "allow-loopback-pinentry" >> gpg-agent.conf
 	echo "ignore-invalid-option pinentry-mode" > gpg.conf
diff --git a/tests/gpg/Makefile.am b/tests/gpg/Makefile.am
index ed1323b4..b2e8837a 100644
--- a/tests/gpg/Makefile.am
+++ b/tests/gpg/Makefile.am
@@ -89,6 +89,7 @@ export GNUPGHOME := $(abs_builddir)
 export GPG_AGENT_INFO :=
 
 ./private-keys-v1.d/gpg-sample.stamp: $(srcdir)/$(private_keys)
+	-gpgconf --kill all
 	$(MKDIR_P) ./private-keys-v1.d
 	for k in $(private_keys); do \
           cp $(srcdir)/$$k private-keys-v1.d/$$k.key; \
diff --git a/tests/gpgsm/Makefile.am b/tests/gpgsm/Makefile.am
index 76e49383..adae6a23 100644
--- a/tests/gpgsm/Makefile.am
+++ b/tests/gpgsm/Makefile.am
@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@ BUILT_SOURCES = gpgsm.conf trustlist.txt pubring-stamp \
 	echo faked-system-time 1008241200 >> ./gpgsm.conf
 
 ./private-keys-v1.d/gpg-sample.stamp: $(srcdir)/$(key_id)
+	-gpgconf --kill all
 	$(MKDIR_P) ./private-keys-v1.d
 	cp $(srcdir)/$(key_id) private-keys-v1.d/$(key_id).key
 	echo x > ./private-keys-v1.d/gpg-sample.stamp