diff --git a/tests/app/test_template_previews.py b/tests/app/test_template_previews.py
index 37554be34..1954c3c9d 100644
--- a/tests/app/test_template_previews.py
+++ b/tests/app/test_template_previews.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ from unittest.mock import Mock
 import pytest
 from notifications_utils.template import LetterPreviewTemplate
 
+from app import load_service_before_request
 from app.template_previews import (
     TemplatePreview,
     get_page_count_for_letter,
@@ -58,6 +59,10 @@ def test_from_database_object_makes_request(
     expected_filename,
     mock_get_service_letter_template
 ):
+    # This test is calling `current_service` outside a Flask endpoint, so we need to make sure
+    # `service` is in the `_request_ctx_stack` to avoid an error
+    load_service_before_request()
+
     resp = Mock(content='a', status_code='b', headers={'c': 'd'})
     request_mock = mocker.patch('app.template_previews.requests.post', return_value=resp)
     mocker.patch('app.template_previews.current_service', letter_branding=letter_branding)