diff --git test/rubygems/test_gem_installer.rb test/rubygems/test_gem_installer.rb
index aba73af181..0a439cdf3d 100644
--- test/rubygems/test_gem_installer.rb
+++ test/rubygems/test_gem_installer.rb
@@ -1215,7 +1215,19 @@ gem 'other', version
   end
 
   def test_pre_install_checks_malicious_name
-    spec = util_spec '../malicious', '1'
+    spec = Gem::Specification.new do |s|
+      s.platform    = Gem::Platform::RUBY
+      s.name        = '../malicious'
+      s.version     = '1'
+      s.author      = 'A User'
+      s.email       = 'example@example.com'
+      s.homepage    = 'http://example.com'
+      s.summary     = "this is a summary"
+      s.description = "This is a test description"
+    end
+
+    Gem::Specification.reset
+
     def spec.full_name # so the spec is buildable
       "malicious-1"
     end
@@ -1226,7 +1238,7 @@ gem 'other', version
     gem = File.join(@gemhome, 'cache', spec.file_name)
 
     use_ui @ui do
-      @installer = Gem::Installer.at gem
+      @installer = Gem::Installer.new gem
       e = assert_raises Gem::InstallError do
         @installer.pre_install_checks
       end