--- a/src/test/helpers.py	Fri Mar 11 16:38:23 2016 +0100
+++ b/src/test/helpers.py	Fri Mar 11 16:41:44 2016 +0100
@@ -22,7 +22,12 @@
 from sat.core import log_config
 log_config.satConfigure()
 
+import logging
+from sat.core.log import getLogger
+getLogger().setLevel(logging.WARNING)  # put this to DEBUG when needed
+
 from sat.core import exceptions
+from sat.tools import config as tools_config
 from constants import Const as C
 from wokkel.xmppim import RosterItem
 from wokkel.generic import parseXml
@@ -47,6 +52,19 @@
     return  u"True" if value else u"False"
 
 
+def muteLogging():
+    """Temporarily set the logging level to CRITICAL to not pollute the output with expected errors."""
+    logger = getLogger()
+    logger.original_level = logger.getEffectiveLevel()
+    logger.setLevel(logging.CRITICAL)
+
+
+def unmuteLogging():
+    """Restore the logging level after it has been temporarily disabled."""
+    logger = getLogger()
+    logger.setLevel(logger.original_level)
+
+
 class DifferentArgsException(FailTest):
     pass
 
@@ -340,7 +358,7 @@
         SatRosterProtocol.__init__(self, host)
         self.parent = parent
         self._jids = {}
-        self.addItem(parent.jid)
+        self.addItem(parent.jid.userhostJID())
 
     def addItem(self, jid, *args, **kwargs):
         if not args and not kwargs: