diff --git a/test/test_helper.rb b/test/test_helper.rb
index a2546dfca..29a313ae0 100644
--- a/test/test_helper.rb
+++ b/test/test_helper.rb
@@ -18,6 +18,9 @@ require 'test/testing_env'
 # add in HOMEBREW_LIBRARY constant, which is for some reason not set in testing_env
 HOMEBREW_LIBRARY = HOMEBREW_REPOSITORY/"Library"
 
+# making homebrew's cache dir allows us to actually download casks in tests
+HOMEBREW_CACHE.mkpath
+
 
 # must be called after testing_env so at_exit hooks are in proper order
 require 'minitest/spec'