diff --git a/osu.Game/Online/API/APIRequest.cs b/osu.Game/Online/API/APIRequest.cs
index a7174324d8..16d1b3ab17 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Online/API/APIRequest.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Online/API/APIRequest.cs
@@ -181,9 +181,13 @@ namespace osu.Game.Online.API
         /// <returns>Whether we are in a failed or cancelled state.</returns>
         private bool checkAndScheduleFailure()
         {
-            if (API == null || pendingFailure == null) return cancelled;
+            if (pendingFailure == null) return cancelled;
+
+            if (API == null)
+                pendingFailure();
+            else
+                API.Schedule(pendingFailure);
 
-            API.Schedule(pendingFailure);
             pendingFailure = null;
             return true;
         }
diff --git a/osu.Game/Online/API/DummyAPIAccess.cs b/osu.Game/Online/API/DummyAPIAccess.cs
index 943b52db88..3cb22381c1 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Online/API/DummyAPIAccess.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Online/API/DummyAPIAccess.cs
@@ -55,7 +55,12 @@ namespace osu.Game.Online.API
 
         public virtual void Queue(APIRequest request)
         {
-            HandleRequest?.Invoke(request);
+            if (HandleRequest != null)
+                HandleRequest.Invoke(request);
+            else
+                // this will fail due to not receiving an APIAccess, and trigger a failure on the request.
+                // this is intended - any request in testing that needs non-failures should use HandleRequest.
+                request.Perform(this);
         }
 
         public void Perform(APIRequest request) => HandleRequest?.Invoke(request);