diff --git a/test/functional/wallet_backup.py b/test/functional/wallet_backup.py
index fa92ebd4360..801a068b49e 100755
--- a/test/functional/wallet_backup.py
+++ b/test/functional/wallet_backup.py
@@ -140,11 +140,6 @@ class WalletBackupTest(BitcoinTestFramework):
         assert_raises_rpc_error(-36, error_message, node.restorewallet, wallet_name, backup_file)
         assert os.path.exists(wallet_file)
 
-    def init_three(self):
-        self.init_wallet(node=0)
-        self.init_wallet(node=1)
-        self.init_wallet(node=2)
-
     def run_test(self):
         self.log.info("Generating initial blockchain")
         self.generate(self.nodes[0], 1)
@@ -230,7 +225,10 @@ class WalletBackupTest(BitcoinTestFramework):
             shutil.rmtree(os.path.join(self.nodes[2].chain_path, 'chainstate'))
 
             self.start_three(["-nowallet"])
-            self.init_three()
+            # Create new wallets for the three nodes.
+            # We will use this empty wallets to test the 'importwallet()' RPC command below.
+            for node_num in range(3):
+                self.nodes[node_num].createwallet(wallet_name=self.default_wallet_name, descriptors=self.options.descriptors, load_on_startup=True)
 
             assert_equal(self.nodes[0].getbalance(), 0)
             assert_equal(self.nodes[1].getbalance(), 0)