diff --git a/tests/storage/conftest.py b/tests/storage/conftest.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b62b97cdb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/storage/conftest.py
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+def pytest_collection_modifyitems(config, items):
+    # modify ordering so that ext is always tested first,
+    # before more complex storage drivers
+    for item in reversed(list(items)):
+        if "_ext_" in item.path.name:
+            items.remove(item)
+            items.insert(0, item)