diff --git a/evennia/commands/default/tests.py b/evennia/commands/default/tests.py
index 9b6ac7d1ab..c1166939c8 100644
--- a/evennia/commands/default/tests.py
+++ b/evennia/commands/default/tests.py
@@ -1405,6 +1405,7 @@ class TestBuilding(EvenniaCommandTest):
             "Could not find 'Obj'.| (Objects to destroy "
             "must either be local or specified with a unique #dbref.)",
         )
+        settings.DEFAULT_HOME = f"#{self.room1.dbid}"
         self.call(
             building.CmdDestroy(), settings.DEFAULT_HOME, "You are trying to delete"
         )  # DEFAULT_HOME should not be deleted
diff --git a/evennia/contrib/game_systems/crafting/tests.py b/evennia/contrib/game_systems/crafting/tests.py
index 32ac22c7c2..7386f190f0 100644
--- a/evennia/contrib/game_systems/crafting/tests.py
+++ b/evennia/contrib/game_systems/crafting/tests.py
@@ -654,7 +654,7 @@ class TestCraftSword(BaseEvenniaTestCase):
 
 @mock.patch("evennia.contrib.game_systems.crafting.crafting._load_recipes", new=mock.MagicMock())
 @mock.patch("evennia.contrib.game_systems.crafting.crafting._RECIPE_CLASSES", new={"testrecipe": _MockRecipe})
-@override_settings(CRAFT_RECIPE_MODULES=[], DEFAULT_HOME="#999999")
+@override_settings(CRAFT_RECIPE_MODULES=[])
 class TestCraftCommand(EvenniaCommandTest):
     """Test the crafting command"""
 
diff --git a/evennia/objects/manager.py b/evennia/objects/manager.py
index 724a8588a9..851a3da1d9 100644
--- a/evennia/objects/manager.py
+++ b/evennia/objects/manager.py
@@ -676,15 +676,19 @@ class ObjectDBManager(TypedObjectManager):
 
         location = dbid_to_obj(location, self.model)
         destination = dbid_to_obj(destination, self.model)
-        home = dbid_to_obj(home, self.model)
-        if not home:
+        if home:
+            home = dbid_to_obj(home, self.model)
+
+        if not nohome and not home:
             try:
-                home = dbid_to_obj(settings.DEFAULT_HOME, self.model) if not nohome else None
-            except self.model_ObjectDB.DoesNotExist:
+                home = dbid_to_obj(settings.DEFAULT_HOME, self.model)
+            except self.model.DoesNotExist:
                 raise self.model.DoesNotExist(
                     "settings.DEFAULT_HOME (= '%s') does not exist, or the setting is malformed."
                     % settings.DEFAULT_HOME
                 )
+        elif nohome and not home:
+            home = None
 
         # create new instance
         new_object = typeclass(
diff --git a/evennia/prototypes/prototypes.py b/evennia/prototypes/prototypes.py
index 2e83d698a2..1f666d931a 100644
--- a/evennia/prototypes/prototypes.py
+++ b/evennia/prototypes/prototypes.py
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@ from evennia.utils.funcparser import FuncParser
 from evennia.utils import dbserialize
 from evennia.utils.evtable import EvTable
 
-
 _MODULE_PROTOTYPE_MODULES = {}
 _MODULE_PROTOTYPES = {}
 _PROTOTYPE_META_NAMES = (
@@ -516,6 +515,10 @@ def search_prototype(key=None, tags=None, require_single=False, return_iterators
         be found as a match.
 
     """
+    # This will load the prototypes the first time they are searched
+    if not _MODULE_PROTOTYPE_MODULES:
+        load_module_prototypes()
+
     # prototype keys are always in lowecase
     if key:
       key = key.lower()
diff --git a/evennia/utils/test_resources.py b/evennia/utils/test_resources.py
index 2f3967086e..edf66e6668 100644
--- a/evennia/utils/test_resources.py
+++ b/evennia/utils/test_resources.py
@@ -152,13 +152,12 @@ class EvenniaTestMixin:
         if hasattr(self, "account2"):
             self.account2.delete()
 
+    # Set up fake prototype module for allowing tests to use named prototypes.
+    @override_settings(PROTOTYPE_MODULES=["evennia.utils.tests.data.prototypes_example"], DEFAULT_HOME="#1")
     def create_rooms(self):
         self.room1 = create.create_object(self.room_typeclass, key="Room", nohome=True)
         self.room1.db.desc = "room_desc"
-        settings.DEFAULT_HOME = "#%i" % self.room1.id  # we must have a default home
 
-        # Set up fake prototype module for allowing tests to use named prototypes.
-        settings.PROTOTYPE_MODULES = "evennia.utils.tests.data.prototypes_example"
         self.room2 = create.create_object(self.room_typeclass, key="Room2")
         self.exit = create.create_object(
             self.exit_typeclass, key="out", location=self.room1, destination=self.room2