diff --git a/core/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/ExecutorAllocationManager.scala b/core/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/ExecutorAllocationManager.scala
index f03913bbfd273..f9590c032c0a5 100644
--- a/core/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/ExecutorAllocationManager.scala
+++ b/core/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/ExecutorAllocationManager.scala
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ private[spark] class ExecutorAllocationManager(sc: SparkContext) extends Logging
     }
     // Require external shuffle service for dynamic allocation
     // Otherwise, we may lose shuffle files when killing executors
-    if (!conf.getBoolean("spark.shuffle.service.enabled", false)) {
+    if (!conf.getBoolean("spark.shuffle.service.enabled", false) && !testing) {
       throw new SparkException("Dynamic allocation of executors requires the external " +
         "shuffle service. You may enable this through spark.shuffle.service.enabled.")
     }