diff --git a/cms/envs/test.py b/cms/envs/test.py
index b391bcbe18..c64e0ef1e8 100644
--- a/cms/envs/test.py
+++ b/cms/envs/test.py
@@ -91,6 +91,7 @@ CONTENTSTORE = {
     'DOC_STORE_CONFIG': {
         'host': 'localhost',
         'db': 'test_xcontent',
+        'collection': 'dont_trip',
     },
     # allow for additional options that can be keyed on a name, e.g. 'trashcan'
     'ADDITIONAL_OPTIONS': {
diff --git a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/contentstore/mongo.py b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/contentstore/mongo.py
index 98756eccba..11e61e1106 100644
--- a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/contentstore/mongo.py
+++ b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/contentstore/mongo.py
@@ -16,8 +16,15 @@ import json
 
 
 class MongoContentStore(ContentStore):
-    def __init__(self, host, db, port=27017, user=None, password=None, bucket='fs', **kwargs):
+    # pylint: disable=W0613
+    def __init__(self, host, db, port=27017, user=None, password=None, bucket='fs', collection=None, **kwargs):
+        """
+        Establish the connection with the mongo backend and connect to the collections
+
+        :param collection: ignores but provided for consistency w/ other doc_store_config patterns
+        """
         logging.debug('Using MongoDB for static content serving at host={0} db={1}'.format(host, db))
+
         _db = Connection(host=host, port=port, **kwargs)[db]
 
         if user is not None and password is not None: