diff --git a/artiq/test/hardware_testbench.py b/artiq/test/hardware_testbench.py
index 47d230ad2..e1b206885 100644
--- a/artiq/test/hardware_testbench.py
+++ b/artiq/test/hardware_testbench.py
@@ -14,6 +14,21 @@ artiq_root = os.getenv("ARTIQ_ROOT")
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
+def get_from_ddb(*path, default="skip"):
+    if not artiq_root:
+        raise unittest.SkipTest("no ARTIQ_ROOT")
+    v = FlatFileDB(os.path.join(artiq_root, "ddb.pyon")).data
+    try:
+        for p in path:
+            v = v.read[v]
+        return v.read
+    except KeyError:
+        if default == "skip":
+            raise unittest.SkipTest("ddb path {} not found".format(path))
+        else:
+            return default
+
+
 @unittest.skipUnless(artiq_root, "no ARTIQ_ROOT")
 class ExperimentCase(unittest.TestCase):
     def setUp(self):
diff --git a/artiq/test/lda.py b/artiq/test/lda.py
index 96a1ab0b1..5231b7964 100644
--- a/artiq/test/lda.py
+++ b/artiq/test/lda.py
@@ -1,11 +1,8 @@
 import unittest
-import os
 
 from artiq.devices.lda.driver import Lda, Ldasim
 from artiq.language.units import dB
-
-
-lda_serial = os.getenv("ARTIQ_LDA_SERIAL")
+from artiq.test.hardware_testbench import get_from_ddb
 
 
 class GenericLdaTest:
@@ -19,16 +16,13 @@ class GenericLdaTest:
                 self.assertEqual(i, self.cont.get_attenuation())
 
 
-@unittest.skipUnless(lda_serial, "no hardware")
 class TestLda(GenericLdaTest, unittest.TestCase):
     def setUp(self):
-        product = os.getenv("ARTIQ_LDA_PRODUCT")
-        self.cont = Lda(serial=lda_serial, product=product)
+        lda_serial = get_from_ddb("lda", "device")
+        lda_product = get_from_ddb("lda", "product")
+        self.cont = Lda(serial=lda_serial, product=lda_product)
 
 
 class TestLdaSim(GenericLdaTest, unittest.TestCase):
     def setUp(self):
         self.cont = Ldasim()
-
-if __name__ == "__main__":
-    unittest.main()
diff --git a/artiq/test/novatech409b.py b/artiq/test/novatech409b.py
index 165b81fad..314b1cb19 100644
--- a/artiq/test/novatech409b.py
+++ b/artiq/test/novatech409b.py
@@ -1,10 +1,7 @@
 import unittest
-import os
 
 from artiq.devices.novatech409b.driver import Novatech409B
-
-
-novatech409b_device = os.getenv("NOVATECH409B_DEVICE")
+from artiq.test.hardware_testbench import get_from_ddb
 
 
 class GenericNovatech409BTest:
@@ -23,9 +20,9 @@ class GenericNovatech409BTest:
             self.assertEqual(r[0:23], "00989680 2000 01F5 0000")
 
 
-@unittest.skipUnless(novatech409b_device, "no hardware")
 class TestNovatech409B(GenericNovatech409BTest, unittest.TestCase):
     def setUp(self):
+        novatech409b_device = get_from_ddb("novatech409b", "device")
         self.driver = Novatech409B(novatech409b_device)
 
 
diff --git a/artiq/test/thorlabs_tcube.py b/artiq/test/thorlabs_tcube.py
index eb2a18f97..0ecb362e8 100644
--- a/artiq/test/thorlabs_tcube.py
+++ b/artiq/test/thorlabs_tcube.py
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 import unittest
-import os
 import time
 
 from artiq.devices.thorlabs_tcube.driver import Tdc, Tpz, TdcSim, TpzSim
 from artiq.language.units import V
+from artiq.test.hardware_testbench import get_from_ddb
 
 
 class GenericTdcTest:
@@ -131,12 +131,9 @@ class GenericTpzTest:
                 self.assertEqual(test_vector, self.cont.get_tpz_io_settings())
 
 
-tdc_serial = os.getenv("ARTIQ_TDC_SERIAL")
-
-
-@unittest.skipUnless(tdc_serial, "no hardware")
 class TestTdc(unittest.TestCase, GenericTdcTest):
     def setUp(self):
+        tdc_serial = get_from_ddb("tdc", "device")
         self.cont = Tdc(serial_dev=tdc_serial)
 
 
@@ -145,12 +142,9 @@ class TestTdcSim(unittest.TestCase, GenericTdcTest):
         self.cont = TdcSim()
 
 
-tpz_serial = os.getenv("ARTIQ_TPZ_SERIAL")
-
-
-@unittest.skipUnless(tpz_serial, "no hardware")
 class TestTpz(unittest.TestCase, GenericTpzTest):
     def setUp(self):
+        tpz_serial = get_from_ddb("tpz", "device")
         self.cont = Tpz(serial_dev=tpz_serial)