diff --git a/bob/bio/face/database/arface.py b/bob/bio/face/database/arface.py
index 2526f38bdef61bfafcf0693e006fb47a42cd8b94..ca5204f493e386837f7e2ff417658bf116dee32f 100644
--- a/bob/bio/face/database/arface.py
+++ b/bob/bio/face/database/arface.py
@@ -33,6 +33,9 @@ class ARFaceBioDatabase(BioDatabase):
             original_extension='.ppm',
             **kwargs
     ):
+        from bob.db.arface.query import Database as LowLevelDatabase
+        self._db = LowLevelDatabase(original_directory, original_extension)
+
         # call base class constructors to open a session to the database
         super(ARFaceBioDatabase, self).__init__(
             name='arface',
@@ -40,8 +43,13 @@ class ARFaceBioDatabase(BioDatabase):
             original_extension=original_extension,
             **kwargs)
 
-        from bob.db.arface.query import Database as LowLevelDatabase
-        self._db = LowLevelDatabase(original_directory, original_extension)
+    @property
+    def original_directory(self):
+        return self._db.original_directory
+
+    @original_directory.setter
+    def original_directory(self, value):
+        self._db.original_directory = value
 
     def model_ids_with_protocol(self, groups=None, protocol=None, **kwargs):
         return self._db.model_ids(groups=groups, protocol=protocol)
diff --git a/bob/bio/face/database/banca.py b/bob/bio/face/database/banca.py
index d1095b9929dae47e6b7b6084d9e975f9627e51eb..17c3687d857557a3324a3b869834a6ca8dca8406 100644
--- a/bob/bio/face/database/banca.py
+++ b/bob/bio/face/database/banca.py
@@ -33,6 +33,9 @@ class BancaBioDatabase(ZTBioDatabase):
             original_extension=None,
             **kwargs
     ):
+        from bob.db.banca.query import Database as LowLevelDatabase
+        self._db = LowLevelDatabase(original_directory, original_extension)
+
         # call base class constructors to open a session to the database
         super(BancaBioDatabase, self).__init__(
             name='banca',
@@ -40,8 +43,13 @@ class BancaBioDatabase(ZTBioDatabase):
             original_extension=original_extension,
             **kwargs)
 
-        from bob.db.banca.query import Database as LowLevelDatabase
-        self._db = LowLevelDatabase(original_directory, original_extension)
+    @property
+    def original_directory(self):
+        return self._db.original_directory
+
+    @original_directory.setter
+    def original_directory(self, value):
+        self._db.original_directory = value
 
     def model_ids_with_protocol(self, groups=None, protocol=None, **kwargs):
         return self._db.model_ids(groups=groups, protocol=protocol)
diff --git a/bob/bio/face/database/caspeal.py b/bob/bio/face/database/caspeal.py
index 9c1bfc5f674a7e929dc650f36f91faabff4a51f0..a6739a3bba81090b2610a76612e466cc252b4f84 100644
--- a/bob/bio/face/database/caspeal.py
+++ b/bob/bio/face/database/caspeal.py
@@ -33,6 +33,9 @@ class CaspealBioDatabase(BioDatabase):
             original_extension='.tif',
             **kwargs
     ):
+        from bob.db.caspeal.query import Database as LowLevelDatabase
+        self._db = LowLevelDatabase(original_directory, original_extension)
+
         # call base class constructors to open a session to the database
         super(CaspealBioDatabase, self).__init__(
             name='caspeal',
@@ -40,8 +43,13 @@ class CaspealBioDatabase(BioDatabase):
             original_extension=original_extension,
             **kwargs)
 
-        from bob.db.caspeal.query import Database as LowLevelDatabase
-        self._db = LowLevelDatabase(original_directory, original_extension)
+    @property
+    def original_directory(self):
+        return self._db.original_directory
+
+    @original_directory.setter
+    def original_directory(self, value):
+        self._db.original_directory = value
 
     def model_ids_with_protocol(self, groups=None, protocol=None, **kwargs):
         return self._db.model_ids(groups=groups, protocol=protocol)
diff --git a/bob/bio/face/database/frgc.py b/bob/bio/face/database/frgc.py
index fb345a36e69ecddd1668d0aa4ff2279f5ff776b7..e767423e133ec051ced138313fbe5efa4d8db484 100644
--- a/bob/bio/face/database/frgc.py
+++ b/bob/bio/face/database/frgc.py
@@ -34,6 +34,9 @@ class FRGCBioDatabase(BioDatabase):
             original_extension='.jpg',
             **kwargs
     ):
+        from bob.db.frgc.query import Database as LowLevelDatabase
+        self._db = LowLevelDatabase(original_directory, original_extension)
+
         # call base class constructors to open a session to the database
         super(FRGCBioDatabase, self).__init__(
             name='frgc',
@@ -41,8 +44,13 @@ class FRGCBioDatabase(BioDatabase):
             original_extension=original_extension,
             **kwargs)
 
-        from bob.db.frgc.query import Database as LowLevelDatabase
-        self._db = LowLevelDatabase(original_directory, original_extension)
+    @property
+    def original_directory(self):
+        return self._db.original_directory
+
+    @original_directory.setter
+    def original_directory(self, value):
+        self._db.original_directory = value
 
     def model_ids_with_protocol(self, groups=None, protocol=None, **kwargs):
         return self._db.model_ids(groups=groups, protocol=protocol)
diff --git a/bob/bio/face/database/gbu.py b/bob/bio/face/database/gbu.py
index 42b9857407178602f49339ede276471c3b5baca7..af1226d930336df245de5fb1af32356790883344 100644
--- a/bob/bio/face/database/gbu.py
+++ b/bob/bio/face/database/gbu.py
@@ -33,6 +33,9 @@ class GBUBioDatabase(BioDatabase):
             original_extension='.jpg',
             **kwargs
     ):
+        from bob.db.gbu.query import Database as LowLevelDatabase
+        self._db = LowLevelDatabase(original_directory, original_extension)
+
         # call base class constructors to open a session to the database
         super(GBUBioDatabase, self).__init__(
             name='GBU',
@@ -40,8 +43,13 @@ class GBUBioDatabase(BioDatabase):
             original_extension=original_extension,
             **kwargs)
 
-        from bob.db.gbu.query import Database as LowLevelDatabase
-        self._db = LowLevelDatabase(original_directory, original_extension)
+    @property
+    def original_directory(self):
+        return self._db.original_directory
+
+    @original_directory.setter
+    def original_directory(self, value):
+        self._db.original_directory = value
 
     def model_ids_with_protocol(self, groups=None, protocol=None, **kwargs):
         return self._db.model_ids(groups=groups, protocol=protocol)
diff --git a/bob/bio/face/database/ijba.py b/bob/bio/face/database/ijba.py
index d8ec6519fce4e428fa525c45f8dd85757d979631..7ac63ab6ec1d70c8f7815d09b0b4454b1e152b34 100644
--- a/bob/bio/face/database/ijba.py
+++ b/bob/bio/face/database/ijba.py
@@ -16,73 +16,92 @@ import bob.io.image
 
 
 class IJBABioFile(FaceBioFile):
-  def __init__(self, f):
-    super(IJBABioFile, self).__init__(client_id=f.client_id, path=f.path, file_id=f.id)
-    self.f = f
+    def __init__(self, f):
+        super(IJBABioFile, self).__init__(
+            client_id=f.client_id, path=f.path, file_id=f.id)
+        self.f = f
 
-  def load(self, directory, extension=None, add_client_id=False):
-    return bob.io.image.load(self.make_path(directory, self.f.extension, add_client_id))
+    def load(self, directory, extension=None, add_client_id=False):
+        return bob.io.image.load(self.make_path(directory, self.f.extension, add_client_id))
 
-  def make_path(self, directory, extension, add_client_id=True):
-    if add_client_id:
-      # add client ID to the path, so that a unique path is generated
-      # (there might be several identities in each physical file)
-      path = "%s-%s%s" % (self.path, self.client_id, extension or '')
-    else:
-      # do not add the client ID to be able to obtain the original image file
-      path = "%s%s" % (self.path,  extension or '')
-    return str(os.path.join(directory or '', path))
+    def make_path(self, directory, extension, add_client_id=True):
+        if add_client_id:
+            # add client ID to the path, so that a unique path is generated
+            # (there might be several identities in each physical file)
+            path = "%s-%s%s" % (self.path, self.client_id, extension or '')
+        else:
+            # do not add the client ID to be able to obtain the original image file
+            path = "%s%s" % (self.path,  extension or '')
+        return str(os.path.join(directory or '', path))
 
 
 class IJBABioFileSet(BioFileSet):
-  def __init__(self, template):
-    super(IJBABioFileSet, self).__init__(file_set_id = template.id, files = [IJBABioFile(f) for f in template.files], path = template.path)
+    def __init__(self, template):
+        super(IJBABioFileSet, self).__init__(file_set_id=template.id, files=[
+            IJBABioFile(f) for f in template.files], path=template.path)
 
 
 class IJBABioDatabase(BioDatabase):
-  """
-    IJBA database implementation of :py:class:`bob.bio.base.database.BioDatabase` interface.
-    It is an extension of an SQL-based database interface, which directly talks to IJBA database, for
-    verification experiments (good to use in bob.bio.base framework).
-  """
-
-  def __init__(
-      self,
-      original_directory=None,
-      annotations_directory=None,
-      original_extension=None,
-      **kwargs
-  ):
-    # call base class constructors to open a session to the database
-    super(IJBABioDatabase, self).__init__(
+    """
+      IJBA database implementation of :py:class:`bob.bio.base.database.BioDatabase` interface.
+      It is an extension of an SQL-based database interface, which directly talks to IJBA database, for
+      verification experiments (good to use in bob.bio.base framework).
+    """
+
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        original_directory=None,
+        annotation_directory=None,
+        original_extension=None,
+        **kwargs
+    ):
+        from bob.db.ijba.query import Database as LowLevelDatabase
+        self._db = LowLevelDatabase(
+            original_directory, annotation_directory, original_extension)
+
+        # call base class constructors to open a session to the database
+        super(IJBABioDatabase, self).__init__(
             name='ijba',
             models_depend_on_protocol=True,
             training_depends_on_protocol=True,
             original_directory=original_directory,
-            annotations_directory=annotations_directory,
+            annotation_directory=annotation_directory,
             original_extension=original_extension,
             **kwargs)
 
-    from bob.db.ijba.query import Database as LowLevelDatabase
-    self._db = LowLevelDatabase(original_directory, annotations_directory, original_extension)
+    @property
+    def original_directory(self):
+        return self._db.original_directory
 
-  def uses_probe_file_sets(self):
-    return True
+    @original_directory.setter
+    def original_directory(self, value):
+        self._db.original_directory = value
 
-  def model_ids_with_protocol(self, groups=None, protocol="search_split1", **kwargs):
-    return self._db.model_ids(groups=groups, protocol=protocol)
+    @property
+    def annotation_directory(self):
+        return self._db.annotation_directory
 
-  def objects(self, groups=None, protocol="search_split1", purposes=None, model_ids=None, **kwargs):
-    return [IJBABioFile(f) for f in self._db.objects(groups=groups, protocol=protocol, purposes=purposes, model_ids=model_ids, **kwargs)]
+    @annotation_directory.setter
+    def annotation_directory(self, value):
+        self._db.annotation_directory = value
 
-  def object_sets(self, groups=None, protocol="search_split1", purposes=None, model_ids=None):
-    return [IJBABioFileSet(t) for t in self._db.object_sets(groups=groups, protocol=protocol, purposes=purposes, model_ids=model_ids)]
+    def uses_probe_file_sets(self):
+        return True
 
-  def annotations(self, biofile):
-    return self._db.annotations(biofile.f)
+    def model_ids_with_protocol(self, groups=None, protocol="search_split1", **kwargs):
+        return self._db.model_ids(groups=groups, protocol=protocol)
 
-  def client_id_from_model_id(self, model_id, group='dev'):
-    return self._db.get_client_id_from_model_id(model_id)
+    def objects(self, groups=None, protocol="search_split1", purposes=None, model_ids=None, **kwargs):
+        return [IJBABioFile(f) for f in self._db.objects(groups=groups, protocol=protocol, purposes=purposes, model_ids=model_ids, **kwargs)]
 
-  def original_file_names(self, files):
-    return [f.make_path(self.original_directory, f.f.extension, False) for f in files]
+    def object_sets(self, groups=None, protocol="search_split1", purposes=None, model_ids=None):
+        return [IJBABioFileSet(t) for t in self._db.object_sets(groups=groups, protocol=protocol, purposes=purposes, model_ids=model_ids)]
+
+    def annotations(self, biofile):
+        return self._db.annotations(biofile.f)
+
+    def client_id_from_model_id(self, model_id, group='dev'):
+        return self._db.get_client_id_from_model_id(model_id)
+
+    def original_file_names(self, files):
+        return [f.make_path(self.original_directory, f.f.extension, False) for f in files]
diff --git a/bob/bio/face/database/lfw.py b/bob/bio/face/database/lfw.py
index b00f41a75e3b5b34c88cb5e1f95d69a73b57d16a..d34d16d9b316e494640eb5dbe7d755c6434bc269 100644
--- a/bob/bio/face/database/lfw.py
+++ b/bob/bio/face/database/lfw.py
@@ -35,6 +35,9 @@ class LFWBioDatabase(BioDatabase):
             annotation_type=None,
             **kwargs
     ):
+        from bob.db.lfw.query import Database as LowLevelDatabase
+        self._db = LowLevelDatabase(original_directory, original_extension, annotation_type)
+
         # call base class constructors to open a session to the database
         super(LFWBioDatabase, self).__init__(
             name='lfw',
@@ -43,8 +46,13 @@ class LFWBioDatabase(BioDatabase):
             annotation_type=annotation_type,
             **kwargs)
 
-        from bob.db.lfw.query import Database as LowLevelDatabase
-        self._db = LowLevelDatabase(original_directory, original_extension, annotation_type)
+    @property
+    def original_directory(self):
+        return self._db.original_directory
+
+    @original_directory.setter
+    def original_directory(self, value):
+        self._db.original_directory = value
 
     def model_ids_with_protocol(self, groups=None, protocol=None, **kwargs):
         return self._db.model_ids(groups=groups, protocol=protocol)
@@ -55,13 +63,13 @@ class LFWBioDatabase(BioDatabase):
 
     def annotations(self, myfile):
         return self._db.annotations(myfile._f)
-        
+
     def client_id_from_model_id(self, model_id, group='dev'):
         """Return the client id associated with the given model id.
         In this base class implementation, it is assumed that only one model is enrolled for each client and, thus, client id and model id are identical.
         All key word arguments are ignored.
         Please override this function in derived class implementations to change this behavior."""
-        
+
        # since there is one model per file, we can re-use the function above.
-        return self._db.get_client_id_from_file_id(model_id)        
+        return self._db.get_client_id_from_file_id(model_id)
 
diff --git a/bob/bio/face/database/mobio.py b/bob/bio/face/database/mobio.py
index 17a6b248d2bd6f91cfdb183756dffc86ba72e00b..0f4589d57900e02d1d1264a844f8641ef8f7b920 100644
--- a/bob/bio/face/database/mobio.py
+++ b/bob/bio/face/database/mobio.py
@@ -37,6 +37,10 @@ class MobioBioDatabase(ZTBioDatabase):
             annotation_extension='.pos',
             **kwargs
     ):
+        from bob.db.mobio.query import Database as LowLevelDatabase
+        self._db = LowLevelDatabase(original_directory, original_extension,
+                                    annotation_directory, annotation_extension)
+
         # call base class constructors to open a session to the database
         super(MobioBioDatabase, self).__init__(
             name='mobio',
@@ -46,9 +50,21 @@ class MobioBioDatabase(ZTBioDatabase):
             annotation_extension=annotation_extension,
             **kwargs)
 
-        from bob.db.mobio.query import Database as LowLevelDatabase
-        self._db = LowLevelDatabase(original_directory, original_extension,
-                                    annotation_directory, annotation_extension)
+    @property
+    def original_directory(self):
+        return self._db.original_directory
+
+    @original_directory.setter
+    def original_directory(self, value):
+        self._db.original_directory = value
+
+    @property
+    def annotation_directory(self):
+        return self._db.annotation_directory
+
+    @annotation_directory.setter
+    def annotation_directory(self, value):
+        self._db.annotation_directory = value
 
     def model_ids_with_protocol(self, groups=None, protocol=None, gender=None):
         return self._db.model_ids(groups=groups, protocol=protocol, gender=gender)
diff --git a/bob/bio/face/database/msu_mfsd_mod.py b/bob/bio/face/database/msu_mfsd_mod.py
index 180e23555824a26c63518924b22aa199a4a00c3b..b6ff32828e1477317a8e46041f215973262f7fe1 100644
--- a/bob/bio/face/database/msu_mfsd_mod.py
+++ b/bob/bio/face/database/msu_mfsd_mod.py
@@ -32,15 +32,23 @@ class MsuMfsdModBioDatabase(BioDatabase):
     """
 
     def __init__(self, max_number_of_frames=None, **kwargs):
-        # call base class constructors to open a session to the database
-        super(MsuMfsdModBioDatabase, self).__init__(
-            name='msu-mfsd-mod',
-            max_number_of_frames=max_number_of_frames, **kwargs)
-
         from bob.db.msu_mfsd_mod.verificationprotocol import Database \
             as LowLevelDatabase
         self._db = LowLevelDatabase(max_number_of_frames)
 
+        # call base class constructors to open a session to the database
+        super(MsuMfsdModBioDatabase, self).__init__(
+            name='msu-mfsd-mod', **kwargs)
+        self._kwargs['max_number_of_frames'] = max_number_of_frames
+
+    @property
+    def original_directory(self):
+        return self._db.original_directory
+
+    @original_directory.setter
+    def original_directory(self, value):
+        self._db.original_directory = value
+
     def protocol_names(self):
         return self._db.protocols()
 
diff --git a/bob/bio/face/database/multipie.py b/bob/bio/face/database/multipie.py
index bde369044f07cbd780171d06ab771a965749caba..04cd418bd582522377adb6910def2c4f5e32ac99 100644
--- a/bob/bio/face/database/multipie.py
+++ b/bob/bio/face/database/multipie.py
@@ -35,6 +35,12 @@ class MultipieBioDatabase(ZTBioDatabase):
             annotation_extension='.pos',
             **kwargs
     ):
+        from bob.db.multipie.query import Database as LowLevelDatabase
+        self._db = LowLevelDatabase(original_directory,
+                                    original_extension,
+                                    annotation_directory,
+                                    annotation_extension)
+
         # call base class constructors to open a session to the database
         super(MultipieBioDatabase, self).__init__(
             name='multipie',
@@ -44,11 +50,13 @@ class MultipieBioDatabase(ZTBioDatabase):
             annotation_extension=annotation_extension,
             **kwargs)
 
-        from bob.db.multipie.query import Database as LowLevelDatabase
-        self._db = LowLevelDatabase(original_directory,
-                                    original_extension,
-                                    annotation_directory,
-                                    annotation_extension)
+    @property
+    def original_directory(self):
+        return self._db.original_directory
+
+    @original_directory.setter
+    def original_directory(self, value):
+        self._db.original_directory = value
 
     def model_ids_with_protocol(self, groups=None, protocol=None, **kwargs):
         return self._db.model_ids(groups=groups, protocol=protocol)
diff --git a/bob/bio/face/database/replay.py b/bob/bio/face/database/replay.py
index 4d8baee1d7cdef98116655d01880888c186b3dc2..b8312e159763ed7a893276ea2da90040dc0edbd7 100644
--- a/bob/bio/face/database/replay.py
+++ b/bob/bio/face/database/replay.py
@@ -37,15 +37,23 @@ class ReplayBioDatabase(BioDatabase):
     __doc__ = __doc__
 
     def __init__(self, **kwargs):
-        # call base class constructors to open a session to the database
-        super(ReplayBioDatabase, self).__init__(name='replay', **kwargs)
-
         from bob.db.replay import Database as LowLevelDatabase
         self._db = LowLevelDatabase()
 
+        # call base class constructors to open a session to the database
+        super(ReplayBioDatabase, self).__init__(name='replay', **kwargs)
+
         self.low_level_group_names = ('train', 'devel', 'test')
         self.high_level_group_names = ('world', 'dev', 'eval')
 
+    @property
+    def original_directory(self):
+        return self._db.original_directory
+
+    @original_directory.setter
+    def original_directory(self, value):
+        self._db.original_directory = value
+
     def protocol_names(self):
         """Returns all registered protocol names
         Here I am going to hack and double the number of protocols
diff --git a/bob/bio/face/database/replaymobile.py b/bob/bio/face/database/replaymobile.py
index e16d61dedc6da3414f5e735dfc69b9d59345ad35..b852e85577ff8d1ebbaa2730e1d200ca760e0e48 100644
--- a/bob/bio/face/database/replaymobile.py
+++ b/bob/bio/face/database/replaymobile.py
@@ -30,13 +30,21 @@ class ReplayMobileBioDatabase(BioDatabase):
     """
 
     def __init__(self, max_number_of_frames=None, **kwargs):
+        from bob.db.replaymobile.verificationprotocol import Database as LowLevelDatabase
+        self._db = LowLevelDatabase(max_number_of_frames)
+
         # call base class constructors to open a session to the database
         super(ReplayMobileBioDatabase, self).__init__(
-            name='replay-mobile',
-            max_number_of_frames=max_number_of_frames, **kwargs)
+            name='replay-mobile', **kwargs)
+        self._kwargs['max_number_of_frames'] = max_number_of_frames
 
-        from bob.db.replaymobile.verificationprotocol import Database as LowLevelDatabase
-        self._db = LowLevelDatabase(max_number_of_frames)
+    @property
+    def original_directory(self):
+        return self._db.original_directory
+
+    @original_directory.setter
+    def original_directory(self, value):
+        self._db.original_directory = value
 
     def protocol_names(self):
         return self._db.protocols()
diff --git a/bob/bio/face/database/scface.py b/bob/bio/face/database/scface.py
index cde69349aa0507bcfe53691b800a51f53f811a40..9db6a97b85bb73eb96c0ac5730263fe0baeed1df 100644
--- a/bob/bio/face/database/scface.py
+++ b/bob/bio/face/database/scface.py
@@ -33,6 +33,9 @@ class SCFaceBioDatabase(ZTBioDatabase):
             original_extension='.jpg',
             **kwargs
     ):
+        from bob.db.scface.query import Database as LowLevelDatabase
+        self._db = LowLevelDatabase(original_directory, original_extension)
+
         # call base class constructors to open a session to the database
         super(SCFaceBioDatabase, self).__init__(
             name='scface',
@@ -40,8 +43,13 @@ class SCFaceBioDatabase(ZTBioDatabase):
             original_extension=original_extension,
             **kwargs)
 
-        from bob.db.scface.query import Database as LowLevelDatabase
-        self._db = LowLevelDatabase(original_directory, original_extension)
+    @property
+    def original_directory(self):
+        return self._db.original_directory
+
+    @original_directory.setter
+    def original_directory(self, value):
+        self._db.original_directory = value
 
     def model_ids_with_protocol(self, groups=None, protocol=None, **kwargs):
         return self._db.model_ids(groups=groups, protocol=protocol)
diff --git a/bob/bio/face/database/xm2vts.py b/bob/bio/face/database/xm2vts.py
index 6059ce3835633bca0a552619704d7e039d7c97cc..2e7d0599ab20bd8c7a45a54303a6f5c4c04d6a64 100644
--- a/bob/bio/face/database/xm2vts.py
+++ b/bob/bio/face/database/xm2vts.py
@@ -33,6 +33,9 @@ class XM2VTSBioDatabase(BioDatabase):
             original_extension='.ppm',
             **kwargs
     ):
+        from bob.db.xm2vts.query import Database as LowLevelDatabase
+        self._db = LowLevelDatabase(original_directory, original_extension)
+
         # call base class constructors to open a session to the database
         super(XM2VTSBioDatabase, self).__init__(
             name='xm2vts',
@@ -40,8 +43,13 @@ class XM2VTSBioDatabase(BioDatabase):
             original_extension=original_extension,
             **kwargs)
 
-        from bob.db.xm2vts.query import Database as LowLevelDatabase
-        self._db = LowLevelDatabase(original_directory, original_extension)
+    @property
+    def original_directory(self):
+        return self._db.original_directory
+
+    @original_directory.setter
+    def original_directory(self, value):
+        self._db.original_directory = value
 
     def model_ids_with_protocol(self, groups=None, protocol=None, **kwargs):
         return self._db.model_ids(groups=groups, protocol=protocol)
diff --git a/bob/bio/face/test/test_databases.py b/bob/bio/face/test/test_databases.py
index 8a4aa37944aed16bf1417962a58b6995a4e9be70..4bd90c4ede29f8426432f8a98006c3b4e394c559 100644
--- a/bob/bio/face/test/test_databases.py
+++ b/bob/bio/face/test/test_databases.py
@@ -334,7 +334,7 @@ def test_msu_mfsd_mod_licit():
             "The database could not be queried; probably the db.sql3 file is "
             "missing. Here is the error: '%s'" % e)
     try:
-        _check_annotations(database, topleft=True, limit_files=20)
+        _check_annotations(database, topleft=False, limit_files=20)
     except IOError as e:
         raise SkipTest(
             "The annotations could not be queried; probably the annotation "
@@ -352,7 +352,7 @@ def test_msu_mfsd_mod_spoof():
             "The database could not be queried; probably the db.sql3 file is "
             "missing. Here is the error: '%s'" % e)
     try:
-        _check_annotations(database, topleft=True, limit_files=20)
+        _check_annotations(database, topleft=False, limit_files=20)
     except IOError as e:
         raise SkipTest(
             "The annotations could not be queried; probably the annotation "