diff --git a/core/cat/routes/plugins.py b/core/cat/routes/plugins.py
index 6d095000..929e5d01 100644
--- a/core/cat/routes/plugins.py
+++ b/core/cat/routes/plugins.py
@@ -83,13 +83,12 @@ async def install_plugin(
         )
 
     log(f"Uploading {content_type} plugin {file.filename}", "INFO")
-    temp = NamedTemporaryFile(delete=False, suffix=file.filename)
-    contents = file.file.read()
-    with temp as f:
-        f.write(contents)
+    plugin_archive_path = f"/tmp/{file.filename}"
+    with open(plugin_archive_path, "wb+") as f:
+        f.write(file.file.read())
 
     background_tasks.add_task(
-        ccat.mad_hatter.install_plugin, temp.name
+        ccat.mad_hatter.install_plugin, plugin_archive_path
     )
 
     return {
diff --git a/core/tests/mad_hatter/test_mad_hatter.py b/core/tests/mad_hatter/test_mad_hatter.py
index 447fc141..2deb8382 100644
--- a/core/tests/mad_hatter/test_mad_hatter.py
+++ b/core/tests/mad_hatter/test_mad_hatter.py
@@ -116,9 +116,10 @@ def test_plugin_uninstall_non_existent(mad_hatter: MadHatter):
     assert active_plugins[0] == "core_plugin"
 
 
-def test_plugin_uninstall(mad_hatter: MadHatter):
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("plugin_is_flat", [True, False])
+def test_plugin_uninstall(mad_hatter: MadHatter, plugin_is_flat):
     # install plugin
-    new_plugin_zip_path = create_mock_plugin_zip()
+    new_plugin_zip_path = create_mock_plugin_zip(flat=plugin_is_flat)
     mad_hatter.install_plugin(new_plugin_zip_path)
 
     # uninstall
diff --git a/core/tests/mad_hatter/test_plugin_extractor.py b/core/tests/mad_hatter/test_plugin_extractor.py
index e36b9ca4..399955fd 100644
--- a/core/tests/mad_hatter/test_plugin_extractor.py
+++ b/core/tests/mad_hatter/test_plugin_extractor.py
@@ -1,31 +1,19 @@
 import os
 import shutil
+import pytest 
+
 from tests.utils import create_mock_plugin_zip
 from cat.mad_hatter.plugin_extractor import PluginExtractor
 
 
-# zip file contains just one folder, inside that folder we find the plugin
-def test_unpackage_nested_zip(client):
-
-    plugins_folder = "tests/mocks/mock_plugin_folder"
-    
-    zip_path = create_mock_plugin_zip()
-    extractor = PluginExtractor(zip_path)
-    extracted = extractor.extract(plugins_folder)
-    assert extracted == plugins_folder + "/mock_plugin"
-    assert os.path.exists(f"{plugins_folder}/mock_plugin")
-    assert os.path.exists(f"{plugins_folder}/mock_plugin/mock_tool.py")
-    
-    os.remove(zip_path)
-    shutil.rmtree(f"{plugins_folder}/mock_plugin")
-
-
-# zip file does not contain a folder, but the plugin files directly
-def test_unpackage_flat_zip(client):
+# plugin_is_flat is False: zip file contains just one folder, inside that folder we find the plugin
+# plugin_is_flat is True: zip file does not contain a folder, but the plugin files directly
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("plugin_is_flat", [True, False])
+def test_unpackage_zip(client, plugin_is_flat):
 
     plugins_folder = "tests/mocks/mock_plugin_folder"
     
-    zip_path = create_mock_plugin_zip(flat=True)
+    zip_path = create_mock_plugin_zip(flat=plugin_is_flat)
     extractor = PluginExtractor(zip_path)
     extracted = extractor.extract(plugins_folder)
     assert extracted == plugins_folder + "/mock_plugin"
@@ -36,9 +24,10 @@ def test_unpackage_flat_zip(client):
     shutil.rmtree(f"{plugins_folder}/mock_plugin")
 
 
-def test_get_id_and_extension(client):
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("plugin_is_flat", [True, False])
+def test_get_id_and_extension(client, plugin_is_flat):
 
-    zip_path = create_mock_plugin_zip()
+    zip_path = create_mock_plugin_zip(flat=plugin_is_flat)
     extractor = PluginExtractor(zip_path)
     assert extractor.get_plugin_id() == "mock_plugin"
     assert extractor.get_extension() == "zip"
diff --git a/core/tests/routes/plugins/fixture_just_installed_plugin.py b/core/tests/routes/plugins/fixture_just_installed_plugin.py
index 05fed8d3..2cadb678 100644
--- a/core/tests/routes/plugins/fixture_just_installed_plugin.py
+++ b/core/tests/routes/plugins/fixture_just_installed_plugin.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ def just_installed_plugin(client):
     ### executed before each test function
 
     # create zip file with a plugin
-    zip_path = create_mock_plugin_zip()
+    zip_path = create_mock_plugin_zip(flat=True)
     zip_file_name = zip_path.split("/")[-1] # mock_plugin.zip in tests/mocks folder
 
     # upload plugin via endpoint
diff --git a/core/tests/routes/plugins/test_plugins_install_uninstall.py b/core/tests/routes/plugins/test_plugins_install_uninstall.py
index 899ac949..785c4404 100644
--- a/core/tests/routes/plugins/test_plugins_install_uninstall.py
+++ b/core/tests/routes/plugins/test_plugins_install_uninstall.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 import time
 import pytest
 import shutil
-from tests.utils import create_mock_plugin_zip, get_embedded_tools
+from tests.utils import get_embedded_tools
 from fixture_just_installed_plugin import just_installed_plugin
 
 
diff --git a/core/tests/utils.py b/core/tests/utils.py
index 3414e999..643d4618 100644
--- a/core/tests/utils.py
+++ b/core/tests/utils.py
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ def key_in_json(key, json):
 # create a plugin zip out of the mock plugin folder.
 # - Used to test plugin upload.
 # - zip can be created flat (plugin files in root dir) or nested (plugin files in zipped folder)
-def create_mock_plugin_zip(flat: bool = False):
+def create_mock_plugin_zip(flat: bool):
 
     if flat:
         root_dir = "tests/mocks/mock_plugin"