diff --git a/fail2ban/server/datedetector.py b/fail2ban/server/datedetector.py
index dbfb9e5d..4bdcefd2 100644
--- a/fail2ban/server/datedetector.py
+++ b/fail2ban/server/datedetector.py
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ class DateDetector(object):
 						logSys.log(logLevel, "Got time %f for \"%r\" using template %s", 
 							date[0], date[1].group(), template.name)
 					return date
-				except ValueError:
+				except ValueError: # pragma: no cover
 					pass
 			return None
 		finally:
diff --git a/fail2ban/server/jail.py b/fail2ban/server/jail.py
index a866cb51..c5f2e9cd 100644
--- a/fail2ban/server/jail.py
+++ b/fail2ban/server/jail.py
@@ -76,7 +76,8 @@ class Jail:
 		self.__queue = Queue.Queue()
 		self.__filter = None
 		logSys.info("Creating new jail '%s'" % self.name)
-		self._setBackend(backend)
+		if backend is not None:
+			self._setBackend(backend)
 
 	def __repr__(self):
 		return "%s(%r)" % (self.__class__.__name__, self.name)
@@ -106,11 +107,12 @@ class Jail:
 					logSys.info("Initiated %r backend" % b)
 				self.__actions = Actions(self)
 				return					# we are done
-			except ImportError, e:
+			except ImportError, e: # pragma: no cover
 				# Log debug if auto, but error if specific
 				logSys.log(
 					logging.DEBUG if backend == "auto" else logging.ERROR,
 					"Backend %r failed to initialize due to %s" % (b, e))
+		# pragma: no cover
 		# log error since runtime error message isn't printed, INVALID COMMAND
 		logSys.error(
 			"Failed to initialize any backend for Jail %r" % self.name)
diff --git a/fail2ban/tests/datedetectortestcase.py b/fail2ban/tests/datedetectortestcase.py
index 095b706a..9a7d3e78 100644
--- a/fail2ban/tests/datedetectortestcase.py
+++ b/fail2ban/tests/datedetectortestcase.py
@@ -29,20 +29,29 @@ import time
 import datetime
 
 from ..server.datedetector import DateDetector
+from ..server import datedetector
 from ..server.datetemplate import DateTemplate
-from .utils import setUpMyTime, tearDownMyTime
+from .utils import setUpMyTime, tearDownMyTime, LogCaptureTestCase
+from ..helpers import getLogger
 
+logSys = getLogger("fail2ban")
 
-class DateDetectorTest(unittest.TestCase):
+
+class DateDetectorTest(LogCaptureTestCase):
 
 	def setUp(self):
 		"""Call before every test case."""
+		LogCaptureTestCase.setUp(self)
+		self.__old_eff_level = datedetector.logLevel
+		datedetector.logLevel = logSys.getEffectiveLevel()
 		setUpMyTime()
 		self.__datedetector = DateDetector()
 		self.__datedetector.addDefaultTemplate()
 
 	def tearDown(self):
 		"""Call after every test case."""
+		LogCaptureTestCase.tearDown(self)
+		datedetector.logLevel = self.__old_eff_level
 		tearDownMyTime()
 	
 	def testGetEpochTime(self):