diff --git a/tests/test_project.py b/tests/test_project.py
index 29975e0d..3e6dc5fa 100644
--- a/tests/test_project.py
+++ b/tests/test_project.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 import subprocess
 
 from common import DUNE_EXE,TEST_PATH
+from container import container
 
 
 PROJECT_NAME = "test_app"
@@ -27,6 +28,9 @@
 def remove_existing():
     """ Remove an existing `./test_app` dir. """
 
+    cntr = container('dune_container', 'dune:latest')
+    cntr.stop()
+
     if os.path.exists(TEST_APP_DIR):
         print("Removing TEST_APP_DIR: ", TEST_APP_DIR)
         shutil.rmtree(TEST_APP_DIR)