diff --git a/src/openfe/tests/protocols/conftest.py b/src/openfe/tests/protocols/conftest.py
index cfd225a98..ab1405aa7 100644
--- a/src/openfe/tests/protocols/conftest.py
+++ b/src/openfe/tests/protocols/conftest.py
@@ -311,17 +311,14 @@ def industry_benchmark_files():
 )
 
 
-@pytest.fixture
-def t4_lysozyme_trajectory_universe():
+# session scope for downstream reuse
+@pytest.fixture(scope="session")
+def t4_lysozyme_trajectory_dir():
     zenodo_restraint_data.fetch("t4_lysozyme_trajectory.zip", processor=pooch.Unzip())
     cache_dir = pathlib.Path(
         POOCH_CACHE / "t4_lysozyme_trajectory.zip.unzip/t4_lysozyme_trajectory"
     )
-    universe = mda.Universe(
-        str(cache_dir / "t4_toluene_complex.pdb"),
-        str(cache_dir / "t4_toluene_complex.xtc"),
-    )
-    return universe
+    return cache_dir
 
 
 RFE_OUTPUT = pooch.create(
diff --git a/src/openfe/tests/protocols/restraints/test_geometry_boresch_host.py b/src/openfe/tests/protocols/restraints/test_geometry_boresch_host.py
index 1c3121f1f..d511b3d81 100644
--- a/src/openfe/tests/protocols/restraints/test_geometry_boresch_host.py
+++ b/src/openfe/tests/protocols/restraints/test_geometry_boresch_host.py
@@ -332,8 +332,12 @@ class TestFindAnchorBondedTrajectory(TestFindAnchorMulti):
     ref_h1h2_distance = 1.55881
 
     @pytest.fixture(scope="class")
-    def universe(self, t4_lysozyme_trajectory_universe):
-        universe = t4_lysozyme_trajectory_universe
+    def universe(self, t4_lysozyme_trajectory_dir):
+        cache_dir = t4_lysozyme_trajectory_dir
+        universe = mda.Universe(
+            str(cache_dir / "t4_toluene_complex.pdb"),
+            str(cache_dir / "t4_toluene_complex.xtc"),
+        )
         # guess bonds for the protein atoms
         universe.select_atoms("protein").guess_bonds()
         return universe
diff --git a/src/openfe/tests/protocols/restraints/test_geometry_utils.py b/src/openfe/tests/protocols/restraints/test_geometry_utils.py
index 34db6a347..d3cf312b0 100644
--- a/src/openfe/tests/protocols/restraints/test_geometry_utils.py
+++ b/src/openfe/tests/protocols/restraints/test_geometry_utils.py
@@ -400,6 +400,16 @@ def test_atomgroup_has_bonds(eg5_protein_pdb):
     assert _atomgroup_has_bonds(ag)
 
 
+@pytest.fixture()
+def t4_lysozyme_trajectory_universe(t4_lysozyme_trajectory_dir):
+    cache_dir = t4_lysozyme_trajectory_dir
+    universe = mda.Universe(
+        str(cache_dir / "t4_toluene_complex.pdb"),
+        str(cache_dir / "t4_toluene_complex.xtc"),
+    )
+    return universe
+
+
 @pytest.mark.skipif(
     not os.path.exists(POOCH_CACHE) and not HAS_INTERNET,
     reason="Internet seems to be unavailable and test data is not cached locally.",