diff --git a/lib/sqlalchemy/testing/runner.py b/lib/sqlalchemy/testing/runner.py
index 0a82a4744b..1a4ba52125 100644
--- a/lib/sqlalchemy/testing/runner.py
+++ b/lib/sqlalchemy/testing/runner.py
@@ -28,4 +28,5 @@ from sqlalchemy.testing.plugin.noseplugin import NoseSQLAlchemy
 
 import nose
 
-nose.main(addplugins=[NoseSQLAlchemy()])
+def main():
+    nose.main(addplugins=[NoseSQLAlchemy()])