diff --git a/test/spec/controllers/groupCtrlSpec.js b/test/spec/controllers/groupCtrlSpec.js
index b55bf433b5..dbe085fd07 100644
--- a/test/spec/controllers/groupCtrlSpec.js
+++ b/test/spec/controllers/groupCtrlSpec.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 'use strict';
 
 describe('Groups Controller', function() {
-  var scope, ctrl, groups, user, guild, party, $rootScope;
+  var scope, ctrl, groups, user, guild, $rootScope;
 
   beforeEach(function() {
     module(function($provide) {
@@ -24,11 +24,12 @@ describe('Groups Controller', function() {
   });
 
   describe("isMemberOfGroup", function() {
-    it("returns true if group is the user's party", function() {
-      party = specHelper.newGroup("test-party");
-      party._id = "unique-party-id";
-      party.type = 'party';
-      party.members = []; // Ensure we wouldn't pass automatically.
+    it("returns true if group is the user's party retrieved from groups service", function() {
+      var party = specHelper.newGroup({
+        _id: "unique-party-id",
+        type: 'party',
+        members: ['leader-id'] // Ensure we wouldn't pass automatically.
+      });
 
       var partyStub = sandbox.stub(groups,"party", function() {
         return party;
@@ -39,10 +40,11 @@ describe('Groups Controller', function() {
 
     it('returns true if guild is included in myGuilds call', function(){
 
-      guild = specHelper.newGroup("leaders-user-id");
-      guild._id = "unique-guild-id";
-      guild.type = 'guild';
-      guild.members.push(user._id);
+      var guild = specHelper.newGroup({
+        _id: "unique-guild-id",
+        type: 'guild',
+        members: [user._id]
+      });
 
       var myGuilds = sandbox.stub(groups,"myGuilds", function() {
         return [guild];
@@ -54,16 +56,18 @@ describe('Groups Controller', function() {
 
     it('does not return true if guild is not included in myGuilds call', function(){
 
-      guild = specHelper.newGroup("leaders-user-id");
-      guild._id = "unique-guild-id";
-      guild.type = 'guild';
+      var guild = specHelper.newGroup({
+        _id: "unique-guild-id",
+        type: 'guild',
+        members: ['not-user-id']
+      });
 
       var myGuilds = sandbox.stub(groups,"myGuilds", function() {
         return [];
       });
 
       expect(scope.isMemberOfGroup(user._id, guild)).to.not.be.ok;
-      expect(myGuilds).to.be.called;
+      expect(myGuilds).to.be.calledOnce;
     });
   });
 });
diff --git a/test/spec/specHelper.js b/test/spec/specHelper.js
index 16ca672a82..b772eb0473 100644
--- a/test/spec/specHelper.js
+++ b/test/spec/specHelper.js
@@ -42,19 +42,22 @@ var specHelper = {};
     return user;
   }
 
-  function newGroup(leader) {
+  function newGroup(overrides) {
     var quest = { progress: { }, active: false };
     group = {
-      "leader" : leader,
-      "quest" : quest,
-      "memberCount" : 1,
-      "chat" : [],
-      "privacy" : "public",
-      "invites" : [],
-      "members" : [
-        leader
+      _id: 'group-id',
+      leader : 'leader-id',
+      memberCount : 1,
+      chat : [],
+      privacy : "public",
+      invites : [],
+      members : [
+        'leader-id'
       ]
     };
+
+    _setOverrides(group, overrides);
+
     return group;
   }