diff --git a/tests/unit/framework/test_pipeline_manager.py b/tests/unit/framework/test_pipeline_manager.py
index 2efab8d28..1e0bc5ee7 100644
--- a/tests/unit/framework/test_pipeline_manager.py
+++ b/tests/unit/framework/test_pipeline_manager.py
@@ -491,6 +491,7 @@ def test_start_starts_thread(self):
         output_config = {"random_name": {"type": "dummy_output"}}
         queue = ThrottlingQueue(multiprocessing.get_context(), 100)
         listener = ComponentQueueListener(queue, target, output_config)
+        listener.component = mock.MagicMock()
         with mock.patch.object(listener._instance, "start") as mock_start:
             listener.start()
         mock_start.assert_called()