diff --git a/krita/main.cc b/krita/main.cc
--- a/krita/main.cc
+++ b/krita/main.cc
@@ -99,6 +99,8 @@
     qputenv("QT_QPA_PLATFORM", "xcb");
 #endif
 
+    KoResourcePaths::setReady(false); // not ready yet
+    
     KisLoggingManager::initialize();
 
     // A per-user unique string, without /, because QLocalServer cannot use names with a / in it
diff --git a/libs/ui/KisApplication.cpp b/libs/ui/KisApplication.cpp
--- a/libs/ui/KisApplication.cpp
+++ b/libs/ui/KisApplication.cpp
@@ -283,7 +283,7 @@
     d.mkpath(QStandardPaths::writableLocation(QStandardPaths::AppDataLocation) + "/symbols/");
 
     // Indicate that it is now safe for users of KoResourcePaths to load resources
-    KoResourcePaths::setReady();
+    KoResourcePaths::setReady(true);
 }
 
 void KisApplication::loadResources()
diff --git a/libs/widgetutils/KoResourcePaths.h b/libs/widgetutils/KoResourcePaths.h
--- a/libs/widgetutils/KoResourcePaths.h
+++ b/libs/widgetutils/KoResourcePaths.h
@@ -220,10 +220,10 @@
     static QString locateLocal(const char *type, const QString &filename, bool createDir = false);
 
     /**
-     * Indicate that resource paths have been initialized and users
+     * Indicate if all resource paths have been initialized and users
      * of this class may expect to load resources from the proper paths.
      */
-    static void setReady();
+    static void setReady(bool ready);
 
     /**
      * Assert that all resource paths have been initialized.
diff --git a/libs/widgetutils/KoResourcePaths.cpp b/libs/widgetutils/KoResourcePaths.cpp
--- a/libs/widgetutils/KoResourcePaths.cpp
+++ b/libs/widgetutils/KoResourcePaths.cpp
@@ -141,7 +141,8 @@
     QMutex relativesMutex;
     QMutex absolutesMutex;
 
-    bool ready = false; // Paths have been initialized
+    // Have paths have been initialized? Assume yes to run unit tests correctly. Krita's usual main() will initially set this to false.
+    bool ready = true;
 
     QStringList aliases(const QString &type)
     {
@@ -553,9 +554,9 @@
     return path + '/' + filename;
 }
 
-void KoResourcePaths::setReady()
+void KoResourcePaths::setReady(bool ready)
 {
-    s_instance->d->ready = true;
+    s_instance->d->ready = ready;
 }
 
 void KoResourcePaths::assertReady()