diff --git a/tests/test_state.py b/tests/test_state.py
index 2e520fb10e1aa5012d5d13e2719389df7079f26a..a096cbe1e676de3e815b427b7d9b8237d626841c 100644
--- a/tests/test_state.py
+++ b/tests/test_state.py
@@ -473,7 +473,7 @@ def test_transfer_state_acl():
     rec.state = db.State(model="Model1", name="State1")
     insert_rec = rec.insert(flags={"ACL": None})
 
-    state_acl = db.ACL()
+    state_acl = db.ACL().combine(db.get_global_acl())
     state_acl.grant(role="role1", permission="UPDATE:DESCRIPTION")
 
     # the acl has been transfered from the state record