diff --git a/tests/regressiontests/app_loading/tests.py b/tests/regressiontests/app_loading/tests.py
index d43cfafaac..17fe08b299 100644
--- a/tests/regressiontests/app_loading/tests.py
+++ b/tests/regressiontests/app_loading/tests.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ from django.db.models.loading import cache, load_app
 
 class InstalledAppsGlobbingTest(TestCase):
     def setUp(self):
-        self.OLD_SYS_PATH = sys.path
+        self.OLD_SYS_PATH = sys.path[:]
         sys.path.append(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__)))
         self.OLD_TZ = os.environ.get("TZ")
 
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ class InstalledAppsGlobbingTest(TestCase):
 class EggLoadingTest(TestCase):
 
     def setUp(self):
-        self.old_path = sys.path
+        self.old_path = sys.path[:]
         self.egg_dir = '%s/eggs' % os.path.dirname(__file__)
 
         # This test adds dummy applications to the app cache. These